Ecclésiaste ou, Le Prédicateur

Chapître 11

1

 Cast¹⁶ thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find⁴ it after many days.

2

 Give³ a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest⁴ not what evil shall be upon the earth.

3

If the clouds be full¹¹ of rain, they empty⁵⁵ [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall⁴ toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth,⁴ there it shall be.⁴

4

He that observeth⁶ the wind shall not sow;⁴ and he that regardeth⁶ the clouds shall not reap.⁴

5

As thou knowest⁶ 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 knowest⁴ not the works of God who maketh⁴ all.

6

In the morning sow³ thy seed, and in the evening withhold⁵⁵ not thine hand: for thou knowest⁶ not whether shall prosper,⁴ 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 behold² the sun:

8

But if a man live⁴ many⁵³ years, [and] rejoice⁴ in them all; yet let him remember⁴ the days of darkness; for they shall be many.⁵³ All that cometh¹ [is] vanity.

9

 Rejoice,³ O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer⁵⁵ thee in the days of thy youth, and walk¹⁶ in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know³ thou, that for all these [things] God will bring⁵⁵ thee into judgment.

10

Therefore remove⁵⁴ sorrow from thy heart, and put away⁵⁴ evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth [are] vanity.