1 mitte panem tuum super transeuntes aquas
quia post multa tempora invenies illum
2 da partem septem nec non et octo
quia ignoras quid futurum sit mali super terram
3 si repletae fuerint nubes imbrem super terram effundent
si ceciderit lignum ad austrum aut ad aquilonem
in quocumque loco ceciderit ibi erit
4 qui observat ventum non seminat
et qui considerat nubes numquam metet
5 quomodo ignoras quae sit via spiritus
et qua ratione conpingantur ossa in ventre praegnatis
sic nescis opera Dei qui fabricator est omnium
6 mane semina sementem tuam
et vespere ne cesset manus tua
quia nescis quid magis oriatur hoc an illud
et si utrumque simul melius erit
7 dulce lumen et delectabile est oculis videre solem
8 si annis multis vixerit homo
et in omnibus his laetatus fuerit
meminisse debet tenebrosi temporis et dierum multorum
qui cum venerint vanitatis arguentur praeterita
9 laetare ergo iuvenis in adulescentia tua
et in bono sit cor tuum in diebus iuventutis tuae
et ambula in viis cordis tui et in intuitu oculorum tuorum
et scito quod pro omnibus his adducet te Deus in iudicium
10 aufer iram a corde tuo et amove malitiam a carne tua
adulescentia enim et voluptas vana sunt
1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. 5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. 6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
7 ¶ Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: 8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
9 ¶ Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.