What a Wise Person Does

1Invest your money in foreign trade, and one of these days you will make a profit. 2Put 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.

3No matter which direction a tree falls, it will lie where it fell. When the clouds are full, it rains. 4If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything. 5God 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. 6Do 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.

7It is good to be able to enjoy the pleasant light of day. 8Be 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.

Advice to Young People

9Young 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.

10Don't let anything worry you or cause you pain. You aren't going to be young very long.