Ecclesiastes 11:2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

◄ Ecclesiastes 11:2 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

English Standard Version
Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.

New American Standard Bible
Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.

King James Bible
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Give a portion to seven or even to eight, for you don't know what disaster may happen on earth.

International Standard Version
Apportion what you have into seven, or even eight parts, because you don't know what disaster might befall the land.

American Standard Version
Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Darby Bible Translation
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Young's Literal Translation
Give a portion to seven, and even to eight, For thou knowest not what evil is on the earth.

Cross References

Matthew 5:42
Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not you away.

Luke 6:30
Give to every man that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again.

1 Timothy 6:18
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

1 Timothy 6:19
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Psalm 112:9
He has dispersed, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.

Proverbs 19:17
He that has pity on the poor lends to the LORD; and that which he has given will he pay him again.

Ecclesiastes 11:3
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be.

Ecclesiastes 11:8
But 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 comes is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:1
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them;

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

11:1-6 Solomon presses the rich to do good to others. Give freely, though it may seem thrown away and lost. Give to many. Excuse not thyself with the good thou hast done, from the good thou hast further to do. It is not lost, but well laid out. We have reason to expect evil, for we are born to trouble; it is wisdom to do good in the day of prosperity. Riches cannot profit us, if we do not benefit others. Every man must labour to be a blessing to that place where the providence of God casts him. Wherever we are, we may find good work to do, if we have but hearts to do it. If we magnify every little difficulty, start objections, and fancy hardships, we shall never go on, much less go through with our work. Winds and clouds of tribulation are, in God's hands, designed to try us. God's work shall agree with his word, whether we see it or not. And we may well trust God to provide for us, without our anxious, disquieting cares. Be not weary in well-doing, for in due season, in God's time, you shall reap, Ga 6:9.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

2. portion—of thy bread.

seven—the perfect number.

eight—even to more than seven; that is, "to many" (so "waters," Ec 11:1), nay, even to very many in need (Job 5:19; Mic 5:5).

evil—The day may be near, when you will need the help of those whom you have bound to you by kindnesses (Lu 16:9). The very argument which covetous men use against liberality (namely, that bad times may come), the wise man uses for it.