Ecclesiastes 11

Cast Your Bread upon the Waters

1 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 1 wind, 2
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.

9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;
k Walk in the 3 ways of your heart,
And 4 in the sight of your eyes;
But know that for all these
l God will bring you into judgment.

10 Therefore remove 5 sorrow from your heart,
And m put away evil from your flesh,
n For childhood and 6 youth are vanity.

  1. Cross References
    Isaiah 32:20
    Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, Who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey.
  2. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 15:10
    You shall surely give to him, and your heart sh...
    Proverbs 19:17
    He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, ...
    Matthew 10:42
    "And whoever gives one of these little ones onl...
    2 Corinthians 9:8
    And God is able to make all grace abound toward...
    Galatians 6:9
    And let us not grow weary while doing good, for...
    Galatians 6:10
    Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do go...
    Hebrews 6:10
    For God is not unjust to forget your work and l...
  3. Cross References
    Psalms 112:9
    He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor.
    Matthew 5:42
    Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
    Luke 6:30
    Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
    1 Timothy 6:18
    Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share.
    1 Timothy 6:19
    Storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
  4. Cross References
    Micah 5:5
    And this One shall be peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land, And when he treads in our palaces, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight princely men.
  5. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:16
    Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
  6. Cross References
    John 3:8
    "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 139:14
    I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
  8. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 7:11
    Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun.
  9. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 9:7
    Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.
  10. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 12:1
    Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them":
  11. Cross References
    Numbers 15:39
    And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined.
    Job 31:7
    If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, Or if any spot adheres to my hands.
    Ecclesiastes 2:10
    Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor.
  12. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 3:17
    I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
    Ecclesiastes 12:14
    For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
    Romans 14:10
    But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
  13. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 7:1
    Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
    2 Timothy 2:22
    Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 39:5
    Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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