Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. New Living Translation Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. English Standard Version He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. Berean Standard Bible He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap. King James Bible He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. New King James Version He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap. New American Standard Bible One who watches the wind will not sow and one who looks at the clouds will not harvest. NASB 1995 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. NASB 1977 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. Legacy Standard Bible He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. Amplified Bible 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]. Christian Standard Bible One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap. Holman Christian Standard Bible One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap. American Standard Version He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. Contemporary English Version If you worry about the weather and don't plant seeds, you won't harvest a crop. English Revised Version He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. GOD'S WORD® Translation Whoever watches the wind will never plant. Whoever looks at the clouds will never harvest. Good News Translation If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything. International Standard Version Whoever keeps staring at the wind won't sow; whoever daydreams won't reap. Majority Standard Bible He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap. NET Bible He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who observes the clouds will not reap. New Heart English Bible He who observes the wind won't sow; and he who regards the clouds won't reap. Webster's Bible Translation He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. World English Bible He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhoever is observing the wind does not sow, "" And whoever is looking on the thick clouds does not reap. Young's Literal Translation Whoso is observing the wind soweth not, And whoso is looking on the thick clouds reapeth not. Smith's Literal Translation He watching the wind shall not sow; and he looking in the clouds, shall not reap. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe that observeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that considereth the clouds, shall never reap. Catholic Public Domain Version Whoever heeds the wind will not sow. And whoever considers the clouds will never reap. New American Bible One who pays heed to the wind will never sow, and one who watches the clouds will never reap. New Revised Standard Version Whoever observes the wind will not sow; and whoever regards the clouds will not reap. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe who observes the wind shall not sow; and he who regards the clouds shall not reap. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated He who watches the wind does not sow, and he who observes the clouds does not reap OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917He that observeth the wind shall not sow; And he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. Brenton Septuagint Translation He that observes the wind sows not; and he that looks at the clouds will not reap. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Cast Your Bread upon the Waters…3If 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. 4He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap. 5As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.… Cross References Proverbs 20:4 The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there. James 1:6-8 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. / That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. / He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Matthew 25:24-26 Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. / So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’ / ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. Luke 9:62 Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Proverbs 22:13 The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!” Matthew 14:29-31 “Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. / But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” / Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” 2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Luke 12:22-26 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. / For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. / Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds! ... Proverbs 26:13-16 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!” / As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed. / The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. ... Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. / And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? / Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? / Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ... 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. Isaiah 55:10-11 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, / so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. Treasury of Scripture He that observes the wind shall not sow; and he that regards the clouds shall not reap. Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. Jump to Previous Clouds Grain Looks Observes Observeth Observing Plant Planted Reap Reapeth Regardeth Regards Seed Sow Soweth Thick Watches Watching Wind Won'tJump to Next Clouds Grain Looks Observes Observeth Observing Plant Planted Reap Reapeth Regardeth Regards Seed Sow Soweth Thick Watches Watching Wind Won'tEcclesiastes 11 1. directions for charity7. death in life and the day of judgment 9. in the days of youth He who watches the wind The phrase "watches the wind" suggests a person who is overly cautious or hesitant, waiting for perfect conditions before taking action. In the Hebrew context, the word for "watches" (שׁוֹמֵר, shomer) implies a careful, almost anxious observation. The "wind" (רוּחַ, ruach) in biblical literature often symbolizes uncertainty or the unseen. This phrase warns against the paralysis that can come from overanalyzing circumstances. In a spiritual sense, it encourages believers to trust in God's timing and provision rather than relying solely on human understanding or perfect conditions. will fail to sow and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew He who watchesשֹׁמֵ֥ר (šō·mêr) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to the wind ר֖וּחַ (rū·aḥ) Noun - common singular Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit will fail לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no to sow, יִזְרָ֑ע (yiz·rā‘) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2232: To sow, to disseminate, plant, fructify and he who observes וְרֹאֶ֥ה (wə·rō·’eh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see the clouds בֶעָבִ֖ים (ḇe·‘ā·ḇîm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common plural Strong's 5645: An envelope, darkness, a, cloud, a copse will fail לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no to reap. יִקְצֽוֹר׃ (yiq·ṣō·wr) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7114: To dock off, curtail, to harvest Links Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIVEcclesiastes 11:4 NLT Ecclesiastes 11:4 ESV Ecclesiastes 11:4 NASB Ecclesiastes 11:4 KJV Ecclesiastes 11:4 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 11:4 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 11:4 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 11:4 French Bible Ecclesiastes 11:4 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who observes the wind won't sow (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) |
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