Ecclesiastes 11 - English Standard Version (ESV)

Cast Your Bread upon the Waters

11 (A)Cast your bread upon the waters,
(B)for you will find it after many days.
2 (C)Give a portion to (D)seven, or even to eight,
(E)for you know not what disaster 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 north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

5 As you do not know the way (F)the spirit comes to (G)the bones in the womb[a] of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening (H)withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to (I)see the sun.

8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember (J)that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is (K)vanity.[b]

9 (L)Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. (M)Walk in the ways of your heart and (N)the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things (O)God will bring you into judgment.

10 Remove vexation from your heart, and (P)put away pain[c] from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 11:5 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Targum; most Hebrew manuscripts As you do not know the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb
  2. Ecclesiastes 11:8 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verse 10 (see note on 1:2)
  3. Ecclesiastes 11:10 Or evil

Cross references

  1. Ecclesiastes 11:1 : [Isa. 32:20]
  2. Ecclesiastes 11:1 : [Deut. 15:10; Prov. 19:17; Matt. 10:42; Luke 14:14; 2 Cor. 9:8; Gal. 6:9, 10; Heb. 6:10]
  3. Ecclesiastes 11:2 : [Ps. 112:9; Matt. 5:42; Luke 6:30; 1 Tim. 6:18, 19]
  4. Ecclesiastes 11:2 : Mic. 5:5; See Job 5:19; Prov. 6:16
  5. Ecclesiastes 11:2 : [Luke 16:9; Eph. 5:16]
  6. Ecclesiastes 11:5 : [ch. 1:6; John 3:8]
  7. Ecclesiastes 11:5 : See Ps. 139:13-16
  8. Ecclesiastes 11:6 : ch. 7:18
  9. Ecclesiastes 11:7 : ch. 6:5; 7:11
  10. Ecclesiastes 11:8 : [ch. 12:1, 2]
  11. Ecclesiastes 11:8 : ch. 2:23; See ch. 1:2
  12. Ecclesiastes 11:9 : [ch. 2:10; 9:7]
  13. Ecclesiastes 11:9 : [Num. 15:39; Job 31:7]
  14. Ecclesiastes 11:9 : ch. 6:9
  15. Ecclesiastes 11:9 : See ch. 12:14
  16. Ecclesiastes 11:10 : 2 Cor. 7:1; 2 Tim. 2:22

You Might Also Like:

Ecclesiastes 11 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

11 Send forth thy bread on the face of the waters, For in the multitude of the days thou dost find it. 2 Give a portion to seven, and even to eight, For thou knowest not what evil is on the earth. 3 If the thick clouds are full of rain, On the earth they empty [themselves]; And if a tree doth fall i...
Read More

Ecclesiastes 11 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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, ...
Read More

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...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

Ecclesiastes 11 - New International Version (NIV)

Invest in Many Ventures11 Ship(A) your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.(B)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...
Read More

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

Do Many Things to Succeed11 Sell your grain in the market overseas. After a while you might earn something from it.2 Try to succeed by doing many things. After all, you don’t know what great trouble might come on the land. 3 Clouds that are full of water pour rain down on the earth.A tree might fall...
Read More

Ecclesiastes 11 - New English Translation (NET)

Ignorance of the Future Demands Diligence in the Present11 Send[a] your grain[b] overseas,[c]for after many days you will get a return.[d]2 Divide your merchandise[e] among seven or even eight[f] investments,[g]for you do not know[h] what calamity[i] may happen on earth.3 If the clouds are full of r...
Read More