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

Do Many Things to Succeed

11 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 to the south or the north.
It will stay in the place where it falls.
4 Anyone who keeps on watching the wind won’t plant seeds.
Anyone who keeps looking at the clouds won’t gather crops.

5 You don’t know the path the wind takes.
You don’t know how a baby is made inside its mother.
So you can’t understand how God works either.
He made everything.

6 In the morning plant your seeds.
In the evening keep your hands busy.
You don’t know what will succeed.
It may be one or the other.
Or both might do equally well.

Remember Your Creator While You Are Young

7 Light is sweet.
People enjoy being out in the sun.
8 No matter how many years anyone might live,
let them enjoy all of them.
But let them remember the dark days.
There will be many of those.
Nothing that’s going to happen will have any meaning.

9 You young people, be happy while you are still young.
Let your heart be joyful while you are still strong.
Do what your heart tells you to do.
Go after what your eyes look at.
But I want you to know
that God will judge you for everything you do.
10 So drive worry out of your heart.
Get rid of all your troubles.
Being young and strong doesn’t have any meaning.

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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...
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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...
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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)

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...
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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...
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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...
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