Ecclesiastes 11:4
He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.
BSB
ASV
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
KJV
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
"He that observes the wind shall not sow; and he that regards the clouds shall not reap. "He who considers what is good for him and does not give out to all who ask him, often destroys what he ought to receive. [Cfr. Luc 6, 30.] Differently: he who proclaims the word of God at the time when the people listen freely and a second wind of rumour comes, he is a negligent and lazy farmer.
1834–1892
SOW when the time comes, whatever wind blows. Reap when the times comes, whatever clouds are in the sky! There are, however, qualifying proverbs which must influence our actions. We are not to discard prudence in the choice of the time for our work. "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven." It is well to sow when the weather is propitious. It is wise to "make hay while the sun shines." Cut your corn when there is the probability of getting it dry.
Therefore sow thy charity in faith, without hesitancy or speculation as to results, because they may not seem promising (Ec 9:10). So in Ec 11:1, man is told to "cast his bread corn" on the seemingly unpromising "waters" (Ps 126:5, 6).
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
Proverbs 3:27Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
leads to
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.
Through
Proverbs 20:4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
leads to
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil.
