Add parallel Print Page Options

Vejledning for vise

11 Invester vidt og bredt, du skal nok få udbytte af det med tiden. Fordel dine investeringer på mange hænder, for du ved ikke, hvilke ulykker der kan ske.

Når skyerne er tunge og sorte, kommer der altid regn. Et træ kan falde til den ene eller anden side, men der er ingen tvivl om, at det vil ramme jorden. Den, der venter på det helt ideelle vejr, får hverken sået eller høstet. Gud har skabt alle ting, og hans handlinger går over vores forstand, ligesom vi ikke forstår, hvordan vinden blæser, eller hvordan fosteret formes i moderens liv. Du bør plante meget forskelligt, for du ved ikke, om det ene eller det andet lykkes, ja, måske lykkes det hele.

Et råd til de unge—husk at leve, mens du gør det

Det er rart at kunne nyde livet. Uanset hvor længe du lever, så vær taknemmelig for hver eneste dag, du kan nyde. Når du først er død, bliver alt til mørke og håbløshed.

Glæd dig og nyd livet i din ungdom. Følg dit hjerte og brug dine evner. Men husk, at du en dag skal stå til regnskab over for Gud. 10 Spild ikke tiden med bekymringer og problemer, for barndom og ungdom forsvinder som dug for solen.

The Value of Diligence

11 Cast your bread (A)upon the waters,
(B)For you will find it after many days.
(C)Give a serving (D)to seven, and also to eight,
(E)For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.

If the clouds are full of rain,
They empty themselves upon the earth;
And if a tree falls to the south or the north,
In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.
He who observes the wind will not sow,
And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

As (F)you do not know what is the way of the [a]wind,
(G)Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child,
So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
In the morning sow your seed,
And in the evening do not withhold your hand;
For you do not know which will prosper,
Either this or that,
Or whether both alike will be good.

Truly the light is sweet,
And it is pleasant for the eyes (H)to behold the sun;
But if a man lives many years
And (I)rejoices in them all,
Yet let him (J)remember the days of darkness,
For they will be many.
All that is coming is vanity.

Seek God in Early Life

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;
(K)Walk in the [b]ways of your heart,
And [c]in the sight of your eyes;
But know that for all these
(L)God will bring you into judgment.
10 Therefore remove [d]sorrow from your heart,
And (M)put away evil from your flesh,
(N)For childhood and [e]youth are vanity.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 11:5 Or spirit
  2. Ecclesiastes 11:9 Impulses
  3. Ecclesiastes 11:9 As you see to be best
  4. Ecclesiastes 11:10 vexation
  5. Ecclesiastes 11:10 Prime of life

Invest in Many Ventures

11 Ship(A) your grain across the sea;
    after many days you may receive a return.(B)
Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
    you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

If clouds are full of water,
    they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
    in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
    whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

As you do not know the path of the wind,(C)
    or how the body is formed[a] in a mother’s womb,(D)
so you cannot understand the work of God,
    the Maker of all things.

Sow your seed in the morning,
    and at evening let your hands not be idle,(E)
for you do not know which will succeed,
    whether this or that,
    or whether both will do equally well.

Remember Your Creator While Young

Light is sweet,
    and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.(F)
However many years anyone may live,
    let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember(G) the days of darkness,
    for there will be many.
    Everything to come is meaningless.

You who are young, be happy while you are young,
    and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
    and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
    God will bring you into judgment.(H)
10 So then, banish anxiety(I) from your heart
    and cast off the troubles of your body,
    for youth and vigor are meaningless.(J)

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 11:5 Or know how life (or the spirit) / enters the body being formed

Preparing for the Future

11 Spread your bread on the water—
after a while you will find it.
Apportion what you have into seven, or even eight parts,
    because you don’t know what disaster might befall the land.
If the clouds are full of rain,
    they will pour out on the earth;
if a tree falls toward the south or the north,
    wherever it falls, there it will lay.
Whoever keeps staring at the wind won’t sow;
    whoever daydreams[a] won’t reap.
Just as you do not understand the way of the spirit
    in the[b] womb of a pregnant mother,
so also you do not know
    what God is doing in everything he makes.
Sow your seed in the morning,
    and don’t stop working[c] until evening,
since you don’t know which of your endeavors will do well,
    whether this one or that,
        or even if both will do equally well.

Preparing for Old Age

How sweet is the daylight, and how pleasant it is for someone’s eyes to behold the sunshine! Even if a person lives many years, let him enjoy them all, recalling that there will be many days of darkness to come—all of which are pointless. So enjoy yourself in your youth, young man, and be encouraged during your younger days. Live as you like, consistent with your world view, but keep in mind that God will bring you to account for everything. 10 Banish sorrow from your heart, and evil from your body, since both childhood and the prime of life[d] are pointless.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 11:4 Lit. who stares at clouds
  2. Ecclesiastes 11:5 Lit. the bones in the
  3. Ecclesiastes 11:6 Lit. then give your hand no rest
  4. Ecclesiastes 11:10 Lit. dark hair