Cast thy bread upon the running waters: for after a long time thou shalt find it again.

Mitte panem tuum super transeuntes aquas, quia post tempora multa invenies illum.

Here, on the stream’s bosom, venture thy livelihood; wait long thou mayst, but be sure thou shalt recover it at last.

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Da partem septem necnon et octo, quia ignoras quid futurum sit mali super terram.

Seven claims thou hast satisfied, do not refuse the eighth. Not thine to foresee what general calamities the future holds in store;

If the clouds be full, they will pour out rain upon the earth. If the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in what place soever it shall fall, there shall it be.

Si repletæ fuerint nubes, imbrem super terram effundent. Si ceciderit lignum ad austrum aut ad aquilonem, in quocumque loco ceciderit, ibi erit.

there the rain comes, where the clouds gather; north or south as the tree falls, north or south the trunk will lie.

He that observeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that considereth the clouds, shall never reap.

Qui observat ventum non seminat; et qui considerat nubes numquam metet.

Still waiting for a wind? Never shall thy seed be sown. Still watching the clouds? Never shall thy harvest be carried.

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones are joined together in the womb of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the works of God, who is the maker of all.

Quomodo ignoras quæ sit via spiritus, et qua ratione compingantur ossa in ventre prægnantis, sic nescis opera Dei, qui fabricator est omnium.

Breath that comes and goes, the fashioning of man’s frame in the womb, of all this thou knowest nothing; and thinkest thou to understand God’s doings, that is Maker of all?

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thy hand cease: for thou knowest not which may rather spring up, this or that: and if both together, it shall be the better.

Mane semina semen tuum, et vespere ne cesset manus tua: quia nescis quid magis oriatur, hoc aut illud; et si utrumque simul, melius erit.

Early abroad, to sow thy seed, and let evening find thee still at work; which sowing shall speed better, none knows, or whether both shall thrive to thy profit.

The light is sweet, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.

Dulce lumen, et delectabile est oculis videre solem.

Ay, it is good to look upon, the light of day; never was eye yet but loved to see the sun.

If a man live many years, and have rejoiced in them all, he must remember the darksome time, and the many days: which when they shall come, the things past shall be accused of vanity.

Si annis multis vixerit homo, et in his omnibus lætatus fuerit, meminisse debet tenebrosi temporis, et dierum multorum, qui cum venerint, vanitatis arguentur præterita.

Only be thy years never so many, never so happy, do not forget the dark days that are coming, the long days, when frustration will be the end of it all.

Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart be in that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these God will bring thee into judgment.

Lætare ergo, juvenis, in adolescentia tua, et in bono sit cor tuum in diebus juventutis tuæ: et ambula in viis cordis tui, et in intuitu oculorum tuorum, et scito quod pro omnibus his adducet te Deus in judicium.

While thou art young, take thy fill of manhood’s pride, let thy heart beat high with youth, follow where thought leads and inclination beckons, but remember that for all this God will call thee to account.

Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh. For youth and pleasure are vain.

Aufer iram a corde tuo, et amove malitiam a carne tua: adolescentia enim et voluptas vana sunt.

Rid thy heart, then, of resentment, thy nature of ill humours; youth and pleasures, they are so quickly gone!