Ecclesiastes 11 YLT
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).
1Send forth thy bread on the face of the waters, For in the multitude of the days thou dost find it.
2Give a portion to seven, and even to eight, For thou knowest not what evil is on the earth.
3If the thick clouds are full of rain, On the earth they empty themselves; And if a tree doth fall in the south or to the north, The place where the tree falleth, there it is.
4Whoso is observing the wind soweth not, And whoso is looking on the thick clouds reapeth not.
5As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, How--bones in the womb of the full one, So thou knowest not the work of God who maketh the whole.
6In the morning sow thy seed, And at even withdraw not thy hand, For thou knowest not which is right, this or that, Or whether both of them alike are good.
7Sweet also is the light, And good for the eyes to see the sun.
8But, if man liveth many years, In all of them let him rejoice, And remember the days of darkness, For they are many! all that is coming is vanity.
9Rejoice, O young man, in thy childhood, And let thy heart gladden thee in days of thy youth, And walk in the ways of thy heart, And in the sight of thine eyes, And know thou that for all these, Doth God bring thee into judgment.
10And turn aside anger from thy heart, And cause evil to pass from thy flesh, For the childhood and the age are vanity!
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