The Value of Diligence

11 Cast your bread aupon the waters,

bFor you will find it after many days.

2 cGive a serving dto seven, and also to eight,

eFor you do not know what evil will be on the earth.

3 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.

4 He who observes the wind will not sow,

And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

5 As fyou do not know what is the way of the 1wind,

gOr 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.

6 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.

7 Truly the light is sweet,

And it is pleasant for the eyes hto behold the sun;

8 But if a man lives many years

And irejoices in them all,

Yet let him jremember the days of darkness,

For they will be many.

All that is coming is vanity.

Seek God in Early Life

9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,

And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;

kWalk in the 2ways of your heart,

And 3in the sight of your eyes;

But know that for all these

lGod will bring you into judgment.

10 Therefore remove 4sorrow from your heart,

And mput away evil from your flesh,

nFor childhood and 5youth are vanity.

12 Remember anow your Creator in the days of your youth,

Before the 1difficult days come,

And the years draw near bwhen you say,

“I have no pleasure in them”:

2 While the sun and the light,

The moon and the stars,

Are not darkened,

And the clouds do not return after the rain;

3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,

And the strong men bow down;

When the grinders cease because they are few,

And those that look through the windows grow dim;

4 When the doors are shut in the streets,

And the sound of grinding is low;

When one rises up at the sound of a bird,

And all cthe daughters of music are brought low.

5 Also they are afraid of height,

And of terrors in the way;

When the almond tree blossoms,

The grasshopper is a burden,

And desire fails.

For man goes to dhis eternal home,

And ethe mourners go about the streets.

6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is 2loosed,

Or the golden bowl is broken,

Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,

Or the wheel broken at the well.

7 fThen the dust will return to the earth as it was,

gAnd the spirit will return to God hwho gave it.

8 “Vanity iof vanities,” says the Preacher,

“All is vanity.”