Ecclesiastes 11

Kast dit Brød på Vandet, Thi du får det igen, går end lang Tid hen.

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

Del dit Gods i syv otte Dele, thi du ved ej, hvad ondt der kanske på Jorden.

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

Er Skyerne fulde af Regn, så gyder de den ud over Jorden; og falder et Træ mod Syd eller Nord; så bliver det liggende der, hvor det falder.

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.

Man får aldrig sået, når man kigger efter Vinden, og aldrig høstet, når man ser efter Skyerne.

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

Som du ikke kender Vindens Vej eller Fostret i Moders Liv, så kender du ej heller Guds Virke, han, som virker alt.

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.

Så din Sæd ved Gry og lad Hånden ej hvile ved Kvæld; thi du ved ej, om dette eller hint vil lykkes, eller begge Dele er lige gode.

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.

Lyset er lifligt, at skue Solen er godt for Øjnene;

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

ja, lever et Menneske mange År, skal han glæde sig over dem alle og komme Mørkets Dage i Hu, thi af dem er der mange i Vente; alt, hvad der kommer, er Tomhed.

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.

Glæd dig, Yngling, i din Ungdom, vær vel til Mode i Livets Vår; gå, hvor dit Hjerte lyster, og nyd, hvad dit Øje skuer; men vid, at for alle disse Ting skal du kræves til Regnskab af Gud.

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.

Slå Mismod ud af dit Sind, hold Sygdom fjernt fra din Krop; thi Ungdom og Livsgry er Tomhed!

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