| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. | 1Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. |
| 2Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. | 2Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land. |
| 3If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie. | 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. |
| 4Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. | 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 body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. | 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. |
| 6Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. | 6Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper. |
| 7Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. | 7Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. |
| 8However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless. | 8So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile. |
| 9You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. | 9Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. 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 to judgment. |
| 10So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless. | 10So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting. |
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