Ecclesiastes chapter 11
Work diligently, even though you do not know the future. Live joyously and responsibly.
WORK DILIGENTLY, EVEN THOUGH YOU DO NO KNOW THE FUTURE
VERSE 1. Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.
Cast your bread on the waters. That is, be adventurous in business.
Or be generous in giving to poor people.
VERSE 2. Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.
to seven, yes, even to eight. It is wise to not put all your cargo in one vessel.
VERSE 3. If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
VERSE 4. He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.
won’t sow … won’t reap. Don’t sit around waiting for the absolutely most opportune moment. Instead, be diligent all the time.
VERSE 5. As you don’t know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don’t know the work of God who does all.
NAB translation: You know not the work of God which he is accomplishing in the universe.
You know not. How great are the works of the LORD God!
We can hardly fathom what he does in our own lives, even as it happens! How can we begin to grasp the enormity of it all!
What is the LORD God doing in your life these days?
in the universe. The LORD God is doing vast projects across an unimaginably large scale.
VERSE 6. In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand; for you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.
LIVE JOYOUSLY AND RESPONSIBLY
VERSE 7. Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the sun.
light is sweet. We are surrounded by the wondrous things of God’s creation, such as light.
VERSE 8. Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
VERSE 9. Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
KJV translation. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know for all these things God will bring thee to judgment.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Book of Ecclesiastes and from the entire Bible.
God will bring thee to judgment. People can live their lives any way they want, but in the end, they will face the Eternal.
VERSE 10. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
NLT translation. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.
keep your body healthy. A surprising number of Christians believe that the cultivation of health and physical fitness is a waste of time. However, this verse calls us to keep our body healthy.
ECCLESIASTES
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Misogynism, Author
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.