Ecclesiastes 11
Thomson 1808
Brenton 1851
Greek · Brenton
1
ThomsonSEND away thy bread on the face of the water; for after many days thou shalt find it.
BrentonSend forth thy bread upon the face of the water: for thou shalt find it after many days.
GreekἈπόστειλον τὸν ἄρτον σου ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ ὕδατος, ὅτι ἐν πλήθει ἡμερῶν εὑρήσεις αὐτόν.
2
ThomsonGive a portion to seven and even to eight; for thou knowest not what evil may be on the earth.
BrentonGive a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil there shall be upon the earth.
GreekΔὸς μερίδα τοῖς ἑπτὰ, καί γε τοῖς ὀκτὼ, ὅτι οὐ γινώσκεις τί ἔσται πονηρὸν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν.
3
ThomsonWhen the clouds are filled with rain they empty themselves on the earth: and if a tree falleth, whether it be to the south or north, in the place where it shall fall there it shall be.
BrentonIf the clouds be filled with rain, they pour it out upon the earth: and if a tree fall southward, or if it fall northward, in the place where the tree shall fall, there it shall be.
GreekἘὰν πλησθῶσι τὰ νέφη ὑετοῦ, ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐκχέουσι· καὶ ἐὰν πέσῃ ξύλον ἐν τῷ Νότῳ, καὶ ἐὰν ἐν τῷ Βοῤῥᾷ, τόπῳ οὗ πεσεῖται τὸ ξυλον, ἐκεῖ ἔσται.
4
ThomsonHe who observeth the wind will not sow; and he who looketh at the clouds will not reap. In these cases there is no knowing which way the wind will blow.
BrentonHe that observes the wind sows not; and he that looks at the clouds will not reap.
GreekΤηρῶν ἄνεμον οὐ σπείρει, καὶ βλέπων ἐν ταῖς νεφέλαις οὐ θερίσει.
5
ThomsonAs thou knowest not how bones are formed in the womb of her who is with child; so thou canst not know the works of God—all that He shall do forming one system.
BrentonAmong whom none knows what is the way of the wind: as the bones are hid in the womb of a pregnant woman, so thou shalt not know the works of God, even all things whatsoever he shall do.
GreekἘν οἷς οὐκ ἔστι γινώσκων τίς ἡ ὁδὸς τοῦ πνεύματος, ὡς ὀστᾶ ἐν γαστρὶ κυοφορούσης, οὕτως οὐ γνώσῃ τὰ ποιήματα τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅσα ποιήσει τὰ σύμπαντα.
6
ThomsonIn the morning sow thy seed; and in the evening let not thy hand forbear; for thou knowest not which will succeed, whether this or that; and should both prosper alike, they are good.
BrentonIn the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thine hand be slack: for thou knowest not what sort shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether both shall be good alike.
GreekἘν τῷ πρωῒ σπεῖρον τὸ σπέρμα σου, καὶ ἐν ἑσπέρᾳ μὴ ἀφέτω ἡ χείρ σου, ὅτι οὐ γινώσκεις ποῖον στοιχήσει, ἢ τοῦτο ἢ τοῦτο, καὶ ἐὰν τὰ δύο ἐπιτοαυτὸ ἀγαθά.
7
ThomsonLight is indeed sweet, and it is grateful to the eyes to view the sun;
BrentonMoreover the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
GreekΚαὶ γλυκὺ τὸ φῶς, καὶ ἀγαθὸν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς τοῦ βλέπειν σὺν τὸν ἥλιον.
8
Thomsonyet because, though a man may live many years and be delighted in them all, he will still remember that the days of darkness are many; that all that is coming is vanity;
BrentonFor even if a man should live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
GreekὍτ καὶ ἐὰν ἔτη πολλὰ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς εὐφρανθήσεται καὶ μνησθήσεται τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ σκότους, ὅτι πολλαὶ ἔσονται· πᾶν τὸ ἐρχόμενον ματαιότης.
9
Thomsonrejoice then, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart spotless and not by the sight of thine eyes, and know that for all these things God will bring thee to judgment.
BrentonRejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart blameless, but not in the sight of thine eyes: yet know that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
GreekΕὐφραίνου νεανίσκε ἐν νεότητί σου, καὶ ἀγαθυνάτω σε ἡ καρδία σου ἐν ἡμέραις νεότητός σου, καὶ περιπάτει ἐν ὁδοῖς καρδίας σου ἄμωμος, καὶ μὴ ἐν ὁράσει ὀφθαλμῶν σου· καὶ γνῶθι ὅτι ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις ἄξει σε ὁ Θεὸς ἐν κρίσει.
10
ThomsonTherefore remove wrath from thy heart and put away evil from thy flesh.
BrentonTherefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for youth and folly are vanity.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπόστησον θυμὸν ἀπὸ καρδίας σου, καὶ πάραγε πονηρίαν ἀπὸ σαρκός σου, ὅτι ἡ νεότης καὶ ἡ ἄνοια ματαιότης.