Ecclesiastes 11 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 11 ▼
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English Standard Version
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1 Throw your bread on the surface of the water, because you will find it again after many days. Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.
2 Divide what you have into seven parts, or even into eight, because you don't know what disaster may happen on earth. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
3 If the clouds are full of rain, they will let it pour down on the earth. If a tree falls north or south, the tree will remain where it fell. If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. If 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.
4 Whoever watches the wind will never plant. Whoever looks at the clouds will never harvest. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
5 Just as you don't know how the breath of life enters the limbs of a child within its mother's womb, you also don't understand how God, who made everything, works. As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. As 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.
6 Plant your seed in the morning, and don't let your hands rest until evening. You don't know whether this field or that field will be profitable or whether both of them will [turn out] equally well. In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good. Sow 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.
7 Light is sweet, and it is good for one's eyes to see the sun. Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8 Even though people may live for many years, they should enjoy every one of them. But they should also remember there will be many dark days. Everything that is coming is pointless. So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity. However 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.
9 You young people should enjoy yourselves while you're young. You should let your hearts make you happy when you're young. Follow wherever your heart leads you and whatever your eyes see. But realize that God will make you give an account for all these things when he judges everyone. Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. You 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.
10 Get rid of what troubles you or wears down your body, because childhood and youth are pointless. Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.
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