Ecclesiastes 11 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Invest in Life

11 Send your bread on the surface of the water,(A)
for after many days you may find it.
2 Give a portion to seven or even to eight,(B)
for you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth;
whether a tree falls to the south or the north,
the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 One who watches the wind will not sow,
and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.
5 Just as you don’t know the path of the wind,
or how bones develop in[a] the womb of a pregnant woman,
so also you don’t know the work of God who makes everything.(C)
6 In the morning sow your seed,
and at evening do not let your hand rest,
because you don’t know which will succeed,
whether one or the other,
or if both of them will be equally good.
7 Light is sweet,
and it is pleasing for the eyes to see the sun.(D)
8 Indeed, if someone lives many years,
let him rejoice in them all,
and let him remember the days of darkness,(E) since they will be many.
All that comes is futile.
9 Rejoice, young person, while you are young,
and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.
And walk in the ways of your heart
and in the desire of your eyes;(F)
but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment.
10 Remove sorrow from your heart,
and put away pain from your flesh,(G)
because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

Footnotes

  1. 11:5 Or know how the life-breath comes to the bones in

Cross references

  1. 11:1 : Dt 15:10; Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42; Gl 6:9–10; Heb 6:10
  2. 11:2 : Ps 112:9; Mt 5:42; Lk 6:30; 1Tm 6:18–19
  3. 11:5 : Jb 10:10–11; Ps 139:14–16; Is 55:9; Jn 3:6–8; Rm 11:33
  4. 11:7 : Ec 6:5; 7:11
  5. 11:8 : Ec 12:1
  6. 11:9 : Ec 2:24; 3:12–13,22; 5:18; 8:15; 9:7–9
  7. 11:10 : 2Co 7:1; 2Tm 2:22

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11 Send thy bread [up]on waters passing forth, for after many times thou shalt find it. (Send thy bread upon the water, and after a time, thou shalt receive it back, and more along with it.) 2 Give thou (thy) parts (to) seven, and also (to) eight, (that is, do not put all thy eggs in one basket); fo...
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Ecclesiastes 11 - World English Bible (WEB)

11 Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.2 Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.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...
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Ecclesiastes 11 - The Voice (VOICE)

11 Teacher: Don’t be afraid to release your bread upon the waters, for in due time you will find it.2 Divide your portion—put seven here, maybe eight there— for you can never be sure when or where disaster will strike.3 When the clouds are dark and heavy with rain, showers will fall upon the earth...
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Ecclesiastes 11 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Wisdom of the Long View11 Cast your bread upon the waters,for after many days you will find it.2 Give portions to seven, or even to eight,for you do not know what disaster may happen upon the earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they empty out rain upon the earth.Whether a tree falls to south or north, ...
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Ecclesiastes 11 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Value of Diligence11 Cast your bread upon the waters,for you will find it after many days.2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what evil may happen on earth.3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth;and if a tree falls to the south or to the no...
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Ecclesiastes 11 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Value of Diligence11 Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back.(A)2 Divide your means seven ways, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.(B)3 When clouds are full, they empty rain on the earth;whether a tree falls to the south or ...
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Ecclesiastes 11 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Uncertainties of Life11 Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.[a]2 But divide your investments among many places,[b] for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. 3 When clouds are heavy, the rains come down. Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays w...
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Ecclesiastes 11 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Ways of a Wise Man11 Throw your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Share what you have with seven, or even with eight, for you do not know what trouble may come on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth. And if a tree falls to the sou...
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Ecclesiastes 11 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Value of Diligence11 Cast your bread (A)upon the waters,(B)For you will find it after many days.2 (C)Give a serving (D)to seven, and also to eight,(E)For you do not know what evil will be on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full of rain,They empty themselves upon the earth;And if a tree falls to t...
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Ecclesiastes 11 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Invest in many ventures11 Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. 3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth.Whether a tree falls to the south or to the n...
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Ecclesiastes 11 - New International Version (NIV)

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Ecclesiastes 11 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

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