Ecclesiastes

Send your bread forth upon the waters; for after many days you will find it.

Distribute portions to seven or even to eight, for you cannot know what misfortune may occur on earth.

If the clouds are filled, they will pour down rain on the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will stay where it falls.aif a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will stay where it falls Emendation yields, “if a thunderbolt (lit. arrow, cf., e.g., 2 Sam. 22.15) falls … where the thunderbolt falls, only there will it strike.”

Whoever watches the wind will never sow; and whoever observes the clouds will never reap.

Just as you do not know how the lifebreath passes intobinto So many mss. and Targum; Tiberian Masoretic mss. read “like.” the limbs within the womb of the pregnant woman, so you cannot foresee the actions of God, who causes all things to happen.

Sow your seed in the morning, and don’t hold back your hand in the evening, since you don’t know which is going to succeed, the one or the other, or if both are equally good.

How sweet is the light, what a delight for the eyes to behold the sun!

Even someone who lives many years should rejoice during all of them, remembering how many the days of darkness are going to be. The only future is nothingness!

O youth, enjoy yourself while you are young! Let your heart lead you to enjoyment in the days of your youth. Follow the desires of your heart and the glances of your eyes—but know well that God will call you to account for all such things—

and banish care from your mind, and pluck sorrow out of your flesh! For youth and black hair are fleeting.