1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

1 Mitte panem tuum super transeuntes aquas,
quia post tempora multa invenies illum.

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

2 Da partem septem necnon et octo,
quia ignoras quid futurum sit mali super terram.

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.

3 Si repletæ fuerint nubes,
imbrem super terram effundent.
Si ceciderit lignum ad austrum aut ad aquilonem,
in quocumque loco ceciderit, ibi erit.

4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

4 Qui observat ventum non seminat;
et qui considerat nubes numquam metet.

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.

5 Quomodo ignoras quæ sit via spiritus,
et qua ratione compingantur ossa in ventre prægnantis,
sic nescis opera Dei,
qui fabricator est omnium.

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.

6 Mane semina semen tuum,
et vespere ne cesset manus tua:
quia nescis quid magis oriatur, hoc aut illud;
et si utrumque simul, melius erit.

7 ¶ Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

7 ¶ Dulce lumen,
et delectabile est oculis videre solem.

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.

8 Si annis multis vixerit homo,
et in his omnibus lætatus fuerit,
meminisse debet tenebrosi temporis, et dierum multorum,
qui cum venerint, vanitatis arguentur præterita.

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.

9 Lætare ergo, juvenis, in adolescentia tua,
et in bono sit cor tuum in diebus juventutis tuæ:
et ambula in viis cordis tui,
et in intuitu oculorum tuorum,
et scito quod pro omnibus his adducet te Deus in judicium.

10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

10 Aufer iram a corde tuo,
et amove malitiam a carne tua:
adolescentia enim et voluptas vana sunt.