The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 Put out your bread on the face of the waters; for after a long time it will come back to you again.
1
Invest your money in foreign trade, and one of these days you will make a profit.
2 Give a part to seven or even to eight, because you have no knowledge of the evil which will be on the earth.
2
Put your investments in several places - many places even - because you never know what kind of bad luck you are going to have in this world.
3 If the clouds are full of rain, they send it down on the earth; and if a tree comes down to the south, or the north, in whatever place it comes down, there it will be.
3
No matter which direction a tree falls, it will lie where it fell. When the clouds are full, it rains.
4 He who is watching the wind will not get the seed planted, and he who is looking at the clouds will not get in the grain.
4
If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything.
5 As you have no knowledge of the way of the wind, or of the growth of the bones in the body of her who is with child, even so you have no knowledge of the works of God who has made all.
5
God made everything, and you can no more understand what he does than you understand how new life begins in the womb of a pregnant woman.
6 In the morning put your seed into the earth, and till the evening let not your hand be at rest; because you are not certain which will do well, this or that--or if the two will be equally good.
6
Do your planting in the morning and in the evening, too. You never know whether it will all grow well or whether one planting will do better than the other.
7 Truly the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
7
It is good to be able to enjoy the pleasant light of day.
8 But even if a man's life is long and he has joy in all his years, let him keep in mind the dark days, because they will be great in number. Whatever may come is to no purpose.
8
Be grateful for every year you live. No matter how long you live, remember that you will be dead much longer. There is nothing at all to look forward to.
9 Have joy, O young man, while you are young; and let your heart be glad in the days of your strength, and go in the ways of your heart, and in the desire of your eyes; but be certain that for all these things God will be your judge.
9
Young people, enjoy your youth. Be happy while you are still young. Do what you want to do, and follow your heart's desire. But remember that God is going to judge you for whatever you do.
10 So put away trouble from your heart, and sorrow from your flesh; because the early years and the best years are to no purpose.
10
Don't let anything worry you or cause you pain. You aren't going to be young very long.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.