¹Cast your bread on the waters ;

for you shall find it after many days .

²Give a portion to seven , yes , even to eight ;

for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.

³If the clouds are full of rain , they empty themselves on the earth;

and if a tree falls towards the south , or towards the north ,

in the place where the tree falls , there shall it be .

⁴He who observes the wind won’t sow ;

and he who regards the clouds won’t reap .

⁵As you don’t know what is the way of the wind ,

nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child ;

even so you don’t know the work of God who does all .

⁶In the morning sow your seed ,

and in the evening don’t withhold your hand ;

for you don’t know which will prosper , whether this or that ,

or whether they both will be equally good .

⁷Truly the light is sweet ,

and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun .

⁸Yes , if a man lives many years , let him rejoice in them all ;

but let him remember the days of darkness , for they shall be many .

All that comes is vanity .

⁹Rejoice , young man , in your youth ,

and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth ,

and walk in the ways of your heart ,

and in the sight of your eyes ;

but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgement.

¹⁰Therefore remove sorrow from your heart ,

and put away evil from your flesh ;

for youth and the dawn of life are vanity .