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 thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
2Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
4He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
5As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
6In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
7Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
8But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
9Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
10Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.