Immerse: Poets Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 276
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IMMERSE
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POETS
11:4–12:7
Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.
Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of
a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the
activity of God, who does all things.
Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you
don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe
both.
Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But
let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to
come is meaningless.
Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do
everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give
an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep
your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you,
is meaningless.
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator.
Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not
pleasant anymore.” Remember him before the light of the sun, moon,
and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken
your sky. Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—
start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop.
R emember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—
stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the
w indows—see dimly.
Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the
sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but
then all their sounds will grow faint.
Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about
danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in
bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and
the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before
you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep
at your funeral.
Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver
cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water
jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then
