Ecclesiastes 11 DBY
Summary: The Preacher urges bold generosity and diversified effort despite uncertainty: "cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days" (v. 1), and give a portion to seven or even eight ventures, since one cannot know what disaster may come. Because the ways of God — like the path of the wind or the growth of bones in a pregnant womb — are unknowable, he counsels sowing seed morning and evening rather than watching the wind and never reaping. The chapter turns to address the young directly, urging them to let their heart cheer them and follow the desires of their eyes while remembering that God will bring them to judgment, and to put away vexation and pain, "for youth and the dawn of life are vanity" (v. 10).
1Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.
2Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
4He that observeth the wind will not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds will not reap.
5As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, how the bones [grow] in the womb of her that is with child, even so thou knowest not the work ofGod who maketh all.
6In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
7Now the light is sweet, and pleasant is it to the eyes to see the sun;
8but 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 cometh is vanity.
9Rejoice, young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know that for all these [things]God will bring thee into judgment.
10Then remove discontent from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.
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