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Ecclesiastes 11
EasyEnglish Bible
Ecclesiastes 11
EasyEnglish Bible
Do what is wise
11 Freely give your things to other people.
If you do that, one day you will receive your things back again.
2 Share your things with several other people.
You do not know when trouble will come.
Then those people can help you.
3 When clouds are full of water,
rain will fall on the earth.
If a tree falls to the ground,
it will stay there, in the same place.
4 A farmer who waits for the right wind
will never plant any seeds.
If he is always looking at the clouds,
he will never bring in his crops.
5 We do not know the path that the wind blows along.
Nor do we know how a baby's body grows
inside a pregnant woman.
So nobody can explain the things that God does.
He is the one who has made everything.
6 Plant your seeds in the morning,
and continue to work until the evening.
You do not know which seeds will become strong plants.
Perhaps only some of them will grow.
Perhaps they will all grow well.
Remember God while you are young
7 Light makes people happy.
It is good to see the sun rise in the morning.
8 People may live for many years,
and they should happily enjoy every day.
But they should remember that their lives will end in death.
There will be many days of trouble ahead.
We cannot understand everything that will happen to us in the future.
9 Young people, enjoy your life while you are young.
Do the things that you think are good.
Enjoy the things that you see.
But remember that God will judge you
for all the things that you do.
10 Do not worry about things.
Do not let your body cause you to have pain.
You will not be young and strong for very long.
We all become old too quickly.
Ecclesiastes 11
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 11
New International Version
Invest in Many Ventures
11 Ship(A) your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.(B)
2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
3 If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the path of the wind,(C)
or how the body is formed[a] in a mother’s womb,(D)
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let your hands not be idle,(E)
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
Remember Your Creator While Young
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.(F)
8 However many years anyone may live,
let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember(G) the days of darkness,
for there will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.
9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.(H)
10 So then, banish anxiety(I) from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.(J)
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 11:5 Or know how life (or the spirit) / enters the body being formed
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