Ecclesiastes 11 GNV
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 vpon the waters: for after many daies thou shalt finde it.
2Giue a portion to seuen, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what euill shalbe vpon ye earth.
3If the clouds be full, they wil powre forth raine vpon the earth: and if the tree doe fall toward the South, or toward the North, in the place that the tree falleth, there it shalbe.
4He that obserueth ye winde, shall not sow, and he that regardeth the cloudes, shall not reape.
5As thou knowest not which is ye way of the spirit, nor how the bones doe growe in the wombe of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the worke of God that worketh all.
6In the morning sowe thy seede, and in the euening let not thine hand rest: for thou knowest not whither shall prosper, this or that, or whether both shalbe a like good.
7Surely the light is a pleasant thing: and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sunne.
8Though a man liue many yeeres, and in them all he reioyce, yet hee shall remember the daies of darkenesse, because they are manie, all that commeth is vanitie.
9Reioyce, O yong man, in thy youth, and let thine heart cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth: and walke in the waies of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but knowe that for all these things, God wil bring thee to iudgement.
10Therefore take away griefe out of thine heart, and cause euil to depart from thy flesh: for childehood and youth are vanitie.
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