1   Cast thy bread ^note upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after ^note 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 are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree falleth towards the south, or towards the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

Before CHRIST, 977.

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 the structure of the parts of conception in 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 thy hand: for thou knowest not whether ^note 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 shall 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   ¶2; 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 thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

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

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