1 Cast your bread upon the waters; for you shall find it after many days.

2 Give a share to seven, and also to eight; for you do not know what evil shall be on the earth.

3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty upon the earth; and if the tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be.

4 He who watches the wind will not sow; and he who pays attention to the clouds will not reap.

5 As you do not know what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones grow in the womb of a pregnant woman; even 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 shall be blessed, either this or that, or whether they both alike shall be 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 lives many years, and rejoices in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that has come is vanity.

9 Rejoice in your youth, young man; 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 vexation from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for childhood and black hair of youth are vanity.