God's New Bible

Ecclesiastes, the Preacher

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 11 -

Cast your bread upon the waters

1
Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
2
Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.
3
If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4
He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.
5
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed (a) in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
6
Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

Enjoy your years

7
Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8
So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.
9
Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
10
So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.(b)

Footnotes

(a)11:5 Or As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones
(b)11:10 Or futile

Cast your bread upon the waters

1
Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.
2
Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.
3
If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
4
He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.
5
As you don’t know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don’t know the work of God who does all.
6
In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand; for you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.

Enjoy your years

7
Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.
8
Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
9
Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
10
Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞