Old Testament
Ecclesiastes 11
Overview
Facing a future no one can control, the Preacher counsels bold, generous, diversified action: cast your bread upon the waters, give a portion to seven or eight, for you do not know what disaster may come. Since we cannot know which venture will prosper any more than we understand how the bones grow in the womb, we should sow our seed in the morning and not withhold our hand in the evening. The chapter turns to the young, urging them to rejoice in the sweet light of life and follow the desires of their heart — yet always remembering that God will bring them into judgment, so they must banish anxiety and put away pain, knowing that youth and its vigor are themselves fleeting vapor.
1Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.
2Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.
3If 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.
4He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.
5As 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.
6In 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.
7Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.
8Yes, 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.
9Rejoice, 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.
10Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.