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Ecclesiastes 11

11 So, make your beer in the traditional, slow method.

If you do, you will eventually produce a product worth your patient efforts.

2 However, be prudent enough to prepare

a couple of vats of beer, and not merely one.

You should do this because you never know

what disasters might happen that could ruin your hard work.

3 It will rain only when the clouds are ready to do so.

Similarly, a fallen tree will remain

in the place where it happened to topple over—

wherever that might be.

4 For this reason, someone might anxiously watch for changes in the wind,

waiting for the optimal moment to plant,

when a strong gust will not blow away the newly planted seeds.

If they do, they will never plant their crops.

Likewise, someone might anxiously watch the clouds,

waiting for the optimal moment to harvest,

when a heavy rainfall will not ruin the ripened crops.

If they do, they will never harvest their crops.

5 Now, no one fully understands from whence the wind comes or whence it goes, nor does anyone fully understand how human bodies form in a pregnant woman’s womb. In this way, human beings cannot fully understand what God is doing in our lives. After all, God is in charge of everything, and he is the one who makes everything happen.

6 In light of this, be diligent!

Plant your crops while it is still morning,

and do not stop planting until you are done—

even through the evening.

You should do this because you do not know which crops will grow better.

It is possible that one batch of crops might grow better than the other,

or perhaps all of your crops will grow well.

7 Remember:

Although the lamentable realities of life

are as difficult to endure as the blinding light of the sun,

it is a pleasant and wonderful thing to be alive,

just like the warm and life-giving light of the sun is good for people.

8 So, in light of this, should anyone live for many years,

that person should enjoy each one of them.

However, he should not allow himself to forget

either the difficult moments of his life in the past

or the reality that he will inevitably grow old and die.

He will undoubtedly have many of these moments,

as difficult and confusing as the pitch dark of night.

However, they—like everything else that will happen in our lives—

will be as temporary and fleeting as the fading mist of my breath.

9 So, you, young man—let yourself be happy while you are still young. Allow yourself to enjoy being alive before you grow old. Pursue the things that you love to do, but never forget that our God will judge you one day. He will discern how well you have lived your life, whether you have enjoyed well your time or squandered it. 10 Moreover, do not allow yourself to feel overly angry or depressed about life, and do not pay attention to the pains that you experience in your body. Remember: Being a young man who lacks gray hair on his head is an experience that is as fleeting as the fading mist of my breath!

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