智慧人的作为
当将你的粮食撒在水面上， 因为日子久了，你必能得着它。Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
2将你所拥有的分给七人，或八人， 因为你不知道会有什么灾祸临到地上。Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3云若满了雨，就必倾倒在地上。 树向南倒，或向北倒， 树倒在何处，就留在何处。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.
4看风的，必不撒种； 望云的，必不收割。He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
5你不知道气息如何进入孕妇的骨头里☛“你不知道...骨头里”或译“风从何道来，骨头在孕妇的胎中如何长成，你尚且不得知道”。；照样，造万物之神的作为，你也无从得知。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.
6早晨要撒种，晚上也不要歇手，因为你不知道哪一样发旺；前者或后者，或两者都一样好。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.
7光是甜美的，眼见日光是多么好啊！Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
8人活多少年，就当快乐多少年，然而也当想到黑暗的日子；因为这样的日子必多，所要来临的全是虚空。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.
对年轻人的忠告
9年轻人哪，你在年少时当快乐；在年轻时使你的心欢畅，做你心所愿做的，看你眼所爱看的；却要知道，为这一切，神必审问你。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.
10所以，当从心中除掉愁烦，从肉体除去痛苦；因为年少和年轻之时，全是虚空。Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.