Ecclesiastes 11-12

Amplified Bible

Cast Your Bread on the Waters

11 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, [be diligently active, make thoughtful decisions], for you will ^[a]find it after many days. ² Give a portion to seven, or even [divide it] to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur 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 it lies. ⁴ He who watches the wind [waiting for all conditions to be perfect] will not sow [seed], and he who looks at the clouds will not reap [a harvest]. ⁵ Just as you do not know the way and path of the wind or how the bones are formed in the womb of a pregnant woman, even so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

⁶ Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle with your hands in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening planting will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

⁷ The light is sweet and pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. ⁸ Yes, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that is to come will be futility.

⁹ Rejoice, young man, in your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant in the days of your young manhood. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the desires of your eyes, but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things. ¹⁰ Therefore, remove sorrow and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, for childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.^(A)

Remember God in Your Youth

12 Remember [thoughtfully] also your Creator in the days of your youth [for you are not your own, but His], before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], “I have no enjoyment and delight in them”;^{(B) 2} before the sun and the light, and the moon and the stars are darkened [by impaired vision], and the clouds [of depression] return after the rain [of tears]; ³ in the day when the keepers of the house (hands, arms) tremble, and the strong men (feet, knees) bow themselves, and the grinders (molar teeth) cease because they are few, and those (eyes) who look through the windows grow dim; ⁴ when the doors (lips) are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding [of the teeth] is low, and one rises at the sound of a bird and the crowing of a rooster, and all the daughters of music (voice, ears) sing softly. ⁵ Furthermore, they are afraid of a high place and of dangers on the road; the almond tree (hair) blossoms [white], and the grasshopper (a little thing) is a burden, and the ^[b]caperberry (desire, appetite) fails. For man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets and market places.^{(C) 6} Earnestly remember your Creator before the silver cord [of life] is broken, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher at the fountain is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; ⁷ then the dust [out of which God made man’s body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. ⁸ “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).”^(D)

Purpose of the Preacher

⁹ Furthermore, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered and searched out and arranged many proverbs. ¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find delightful words, even to write correctly words of truth.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like [prodding] goads, and these collected sayings are [firmly fixed in the mind] like well-driven nails; ^[c]they are given by one Shepherd.^{(E) 12} But beyond this my son, [about going further than the words given by one Shepherd], be warned: the writing of many books is endless [so do not believe everything you read], and excessive study and devotion to books is wearying to the body.

¹³ When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. ¹⁴ For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil.^(F)