Ecclesiastes 11
New American Standard Bible
Cast Your Bread on the Waters
11 (A)Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you (B)will find it [a]after many days. 2 (C)Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what (D)misfortune may occur on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain on the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it [b]lies. 4 One who watches the wind will not sow and one who looks at the clouds will not harvest. 5 Just as you do not (E)know the path of the [c]wind, and (F)how bones are formed in the womb of the [d]pregnant woman, so you do not (G)know the activity of God who makes everything.
6 Sow your seed (H)in the morning and do not [e]be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether [f]one or the other will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.
7 The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to (I)see the sun. 8 Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him (J)rejoice in them all; but let him remember the (K)days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.
9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the [g]impulses of your heart and the [h](L)desires of your eyes. Yet know that (M)God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10 So remove [i]sorrow from your heart and keep [j](N)pain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are [k]fleeting.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 11:1 Lit in, within
- Ecclesiastes 11:3 Lit is
- Ecclesiastes 11:5 Or with many mss spirit into the bones in the womb
- Ecclesiastes 11:5 Lit full
- Ecclesiastes 11:6 Lit let down your hand
- Ecclesiastes 11:6 Lit this or that
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 Lit ways
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 Lit sights
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Or anger
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Lit evil
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Lit futility
Ecclesiastes 11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Value of Diligence
11 Send out your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will get it back.(A)
2 Divide your means seven ways, or even eight,
for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.(B)
3 When clouds are full,
they empty rain on the earth;
whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 Whoever observes the wind will not sow,
and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.
5 Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.(C)
6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.(D)
Youth and Old Age
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.(E)
8 Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all, yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.(F)
9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.(G)
10 Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.(H)
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.