Ecclesiastes 11 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 11 ▼
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NASB95
New American Standard 1995
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
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1 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it 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 your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the 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, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. 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 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not 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 know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. 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 do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good. 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 The light is pleasant, and it is good for the 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 Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility. 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 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 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 So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting. 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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