Ecclesiastes 11 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Value of Diligence

11 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 the south or the north,
In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

5 As (F)you do not know what is the way of the [a]wind,
(G)Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child,
So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed,
And in the evening do not withhold your hand;
For you do not know which will prosper,
Either this or that,
Or whether both alike will be good.

7 Truly the light is sweet,
And it is pleasant for the eyes (H)to behold the sun;
8 But if a man lives many years
And (I)rejoices in them all,
Yet let him (J)remember the days of darkness,
For they will be many.
All that is coming is vanity.

Seek God in Early Life

9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;
(K)Walk in the [b]ways of your heart,
And [c]in the sight of your eyes;
But know that for all these
(L)God will bring you into judgment.
10 Therefore remove [d]sorrow from your heart,
And (M)put away evil from your flesh,
(N)For childhood and [e]youth are vanity.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 11:5 Or spirit
  2. Ecclesiastes 11:9 Impulses
  3. Ecclesiastes 11:9 As you see to be best
  4. Ecclesiastes 11:10 vexation
  5. Ecclesiastes 11:10 Prime of life

Cross references

  1. Ecclesiastes 11:1 : Is. 32:20
  2. Ecclesiastes 11:1 : [Deut. 15:10; Prov. 19:17; Matt. 10:42; 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
  5. Ecclesiastes 11:2 : Eph. 5:16
  6. Ecclesiastes 11:5 : John 3:8
  7. Ecclesiastes 11:5 : Ps. 139:14
  8. Ecclesiastes 11:7 : Eccl. 7:11
  9. Ecclesiastes 11:8 : Eccl. 9:7
  10. Ecclesiastes 11:8 : Eccl. 12:1
  11. Ecclesiastes 11:9 : Num. 15:39; Job 31:7; Eccl. 2:10
  12. Ecclesiastes 11:9 : Eccl. 3:17; 12:14; [Rom. 14:10]
  13. Ecclesiastes 11:10 : 2 Cor. 7:1; 2 Tim. 2:22
  14. Ecclesiastes 11:10 : Ps. 39:5

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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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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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