Ecclesiasteschapter 11

1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.

2 Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

3 If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

4 He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.

5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

6 Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

8 So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.

9 Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. 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 to judgment.

10 So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

'Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.

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'Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.' He that observeth the wind shall not sow: 'thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.' In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand. Light is sweet. 'Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth… but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.'

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

Poetry · Solomon — Ecclesiastes overview

A. 1–6 Cast Thy Bread Upon the Waters; Sow in the Morning
B. 7–10 Rejoice, Young Man — but Know That God Will Bring Thee Into Judgment

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Ecclesiastes 122 verses
- Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”
- Ecclesiastes 12:14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
- Read Ecclesiastes 12 →
Isaiah 551 verse
- Isaiah 55:10For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat,
- Read Isaiah 55 →
Proverbs 191 verse
- Proverbs 19:17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
- Read Proverbs 19 →
Ecclesiastes 111 verse
- Ecclesiastes 11:6Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.
- Read Ecclesiastes 11 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Hebrews 61 verse
- Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Read Hebrews 6 →
1 Timothy 61 verse
- 1 Timothy 6:18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
- Read 1 Timothy 6 →
Psalms 1121 verse
- Psalms 112:9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.
- Read Psalms 112 →
Job 51 verse
- Job 5:19He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven.
- Read Job 5 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.