Aussie Bible logo: gum tree, cross and Uluru at sunset over an open book Aussie BibleFair Dinkum Edition

Ecclesiastes 11

Cast your bread on the waters. You don't know which venture will succeed, so sow in the morning and don't hold back in the evening.

Now reading: Fair Dinkum

You’re in Study Mode. Each verse shows our Fair Dinkum rendering with the King James Version (1611) underneath, so you can compare them. Use the button above to switch back to plain reading.

Cast your bread

Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. 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. Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.

1

Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.

King James Version, 1611

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

2

Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

King James Version, 1611

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

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.

King James Version, 1611

If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

4

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

King James Version, 1611

He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

5

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

King James Version, 1611

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

6

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.

King James Version, 1611

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Remember your Creator while young

Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless. 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 judgement. So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigour are meaningless.

7

Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

King James Version, 1611

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

8

However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.

King James Version, 1611

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

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 judgement.

King James Version, 1611

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 thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

10

So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigour are meaningless.

King James Version, 1611

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.