Eclesiastes 11

Cast Your Bread on the Waters

1 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it *11:1 Lit in, withinafter many days. 2 Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain on the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it *11:3 Lit islies. 4 One who watches the wind will not sow and one who looks at the clouds will not harvest. 5 Just as you do not know the path of the *11:5 Or with many mss spirit into the bones in the wombwind, and how bones are formed in the womb of the *11:5 Lit fullpregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes everything.

6 Sow your seed in the morning and do not *11:6 Lit let down your handbe idle in the evening, for you do not know whether *11:6 Lit this or thatone or the other will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

7 The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the *11:9 Lit waysimpulses of your heart and the *11:9 Lit sightsdesires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10 So remove *11:10 Or angersorrow from your heart and keep *11:10 Lit evilpain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are *11:10 Lit futilityfleeting.