Ecclesiastes 11 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 11 ▼
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1 Spread your bread on the water— after a while you will find it. 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 Apportion what you have into seven, or even eight parts, because you don't know what disaster might befall the land. 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 pour out on the earth; if a tree falls toward the south or the north, wherever it falls, there it will lay. 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 keeps staring at the wind won't sow; whoever daydreams won't reap. 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 do not understand the way of the spirit in the womb of a pregnant mother, so also you do not know what God is doing in everything he makes. 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 Sow your seed in the morning, and don't stop working until evening, since you don't know which of your endeavors will do well, whether this one or that, or even if both will do 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 How sweet is the daylight, and how pleasant it is for someone's eyes to behold the sunshine! 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 if a person lives many years, let him enjoy them all, recalling that there will be many days of darkness to come—all of which are 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 So enjoy yourself in your youth, young man, and be encouraged during your younger days. Live as you like, consistent with your world view, but keep in mind that God will bring you to account for everything. 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 Banish sorrow from your heart, and evil from your body, since both childhood and the prime of life 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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