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11 Cast your bread on the waters;

    for you shall find it after many days.
Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight;
    for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.
If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth;
    and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north,
    in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
He who observes the wind won’t sow;
    and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.
As 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.
In 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.
Truly the light is sweet,
    and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.
Yes, 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.
Rejoice, 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 judgment.
10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart,
    and put away evil from your flesh;
    for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

The Value of Diligence

11 Send out your bread upon the waters,
    for after many days you will get it back.(A)
Divide your means seven ways, or even eight,
    for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.(B)
When clouds are full,
    they empty rain on the earth;
whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
    in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
Whoever observes the wind will not sow,
    and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.

Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.(C)

In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.(D)

Youth and Old Age

Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.(E)

Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all, yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.(F)

Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.(G)

10 Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.(H)