Ecclesiastes Chapter 11

¹ Toss your bread on the water;

      it’ll come back around a long time later.

² Diversify your investments seven or eight ways;

      you don’t know what risks lie ahead.

³ Heavy clouds drop rain;

      a tree stays where it falls.

⁴ If you keep worrying about the weather, you won’t sow;

      if you keep watching the clouds, you won’t reap.

⁵ Just like you don’t know where the wind will blow

            or how bones form in a womb,

      you don’t understand what God’s doing

            who makes everything happen.

⁶ Plant your seed in the morning;

            don’t be idle in the afternoon;

      you don’t know if planting in the morning

            or afternoon is best,

            or if one’s as good as the other.                                 

Eccl 11:1-6

⁷ Light is pleasing;

      sunrise is pleasant to behold.

⁸ If you live a long time, enjoy all your years;  

      just remember, there’ll be lots of dark days,

      and nothing will seem important in the end.

⁹ Young people, enjoy life while you’re young;

            stay pleasant.

      Go ahead and follow your impulses and desires;

            just remember, God will judge you for all of them.

         ¹⁰So don’t worry; take care of your health,

            because childhood and the prime of life soon pass.  

Eccl 11:7-10