Ecclesiastes Chapter 11
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
2
This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that
3
they go to the dead.
4
For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6
As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, is perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun.
7
Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God hath already accepted thy works.
8
Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack oil.
9
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy life of vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity: for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labor wherein thou laborest under the sun.
10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.
2
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
4
He that observeth the wind will not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds will not reap.
5
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, how the bones [grow] in the womb of her that is with child, even so thou knowest not the work ofGod who maketh all.
6
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
7
Now the light is sweet, and pleasant is it to the eyes to see the sun;
8
but if a man live many years, [and] rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many: all that cometh is vanity.
9
Rejoice, young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know that for all these [things]God will bring thee into judgment.
10
Then remove discontent from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
Send forth thy bread upon the face of the water: for thou shalt find it after many days.
2
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil there shall be upon the earth.
3
If the clouds be filled with rain, they pour [it] out upon the earth: and if a tree fall southward, or if it fall northward, in the place where the tree shall fall, there it shall be.
4
He that observes the wind sows not; and he that looks at the clouds will not reap.
5
Among whom none knows what is the way of the wind: as the bones [are hid] in the womb of a pregnant [woman], so thou shalt not know the works of God, [even] all things whatsoever he shall do.
6
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thine hand be slack: for thou knowest not what sort shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether both shall be good alike.
7
Moreover the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
8
For even if a man should live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
9
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart blameless, but not in the sight of thine eyes: yet know that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
10
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for youth and folly are vanity.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Mitte panem tuum super transeuntes aquas: quia post tempora multa invenies illum.
2
Da partem septem, necnon et octo: quia ignoras quid futurum sit mali super terram.
3
Si repletæ fuerint nubes, imbrem super terram effundent. Si ceciderit lignum ad Austrum, aut ad Aquilonem, in quocumque loco ceciderit, ibi erit.
4
Qui observat ventum, non seminat: et qui considerat nubes, numquam metet.
5
Quomodo ignoras quæ sit via spiritus, et qua ratione compingantur ossa in ventre prægnantis; sic nescis opera Dei, qui fabricator est omnium.
6
Mane semina semen tuum, et vespere ne cesset manus tua: quia nescis quid magis oriatur, hoc aut illud: et si utrumque simul, melius erit.
7
Dulce lumen, et delectabile est oculis videre solem.
8
Si annis multis vixerit homo, et in his omnibus lætatus fuerit, meminisse debet tenebrosi temporis, et dierum multorum: qui cum venerint, vanitatis arguentur præterita.
9
Lætare ergo iuvenis in adolescentia tua, et in bono sit cor tuum in diebus iuventutis tuæ, et ambula in viis cordis tui, et in intuitu oculorum tuorum: et scito quod pro omnibus his adducet te Deus in iudicium.
10
Aufer iram a corde tuo, et amove malitiam a carne tua. Adolescentia enim et voluptas vana sunt.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
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 the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
4
He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.
5
As you don’t know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don’t know the work of God who does all.
6
In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand; for you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.
7
Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.
8
Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
9
Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and 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 into judgment.
10
Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
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 <FI>themselves<Fi> ; And if a tree doth fall in the south or to the north, The place where the tree falleth, there it is.
4
Whoso is observing the wind soweth not, And whoso is looking on the thick clouds reapeth not.
5
As thou knowest not what <FI>is<Fi> the way of the spirit, How--bones in the womb of the full one, So thou knowest not the work of God who maketh the whole.
6
In the morning sow thy seed, And at even withdraw not thy hand, For thou knowest not which is right, this or that, Or whether both of them alike <FI>are<Fi> good.
7
Sweet also <FI>is<Fi> the light, And good for the eyes to see the sun.
8
But, if man liveth many years, In all of them let him rejoice, And remember the days of darkness, For they are many! all that is coming <FI>is<Fi> vanity.
9
Rejoice, O young man, in thy childhood, And let thy heart gladden thee in days of thy youth, And walk in the ways of thy heart, And in the sight of thine eyes, And know thou that for all these, Doth God bring thee into judgment.
10
And turn aside anger from thy heart, And cause evil to pass from thy flesh, For the childhood and the age <FI>are<Fi> vanity!
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).