King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
1
Invest your money in foreign trade, and one of these days you will make a profit.
2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon 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 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.
3
No matter which direction a tree falls, it will lie where it fell. When the clouds are full, it rains.
4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
4
If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything.
5 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.
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 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.
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 a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
7
It is good to be able to enjoy the pleasant light of day.
8 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.
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 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.
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 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
10
Don't let anything worry you or cause you pain. You aren't going to be young very long.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.