Ecclesiastes 11 - Heartlight

¹Cast your bread upon the waters,

for after many days you will find it again.

²Divide your portion among seven, or even eight,

for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

³If the clouds are full,

they will pour out rain upon the earth;

whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,

in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

⁴He who watches the wind will fail to sow,

and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.

⁵As you do not know the path of the wind,

or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb,

so you cannot understand the work of God,

the Maker of all things.

⁶Sow your seed in the morning,

and do not rest your hands in the evening,

for you do not know which will succeed,

whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

⁷Light is sweet,

and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

⁸So if a man lives many years,

let him rejoice in them all.

But let him remember the days of darkness,

for they will be many.

Everything to come is futile.

⁹Rejoice, O young man, while you are young,

and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.

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 to judgment.

¹⁰So banish sorrow from your heart,

and cast off pain from your body,

for youth and vigor are fleeting.

— Ecclesiastes 11

(BSB)

Related Resources from Heartlight

There are 4 resources related to this passage:

Diversify Your Good Works for God

Illustration of Ecclesiastes 11:5-6 NLT

Illustration of Ecclesiastes 11:5-6 NLT -- Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.

As you do not know the path of the...

Illustration of Ecclesiastes 11:5

Illustration of Ecclesiastes 11:5 -- 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.

Come Lord Jesus!

Illustration of Ecclesiastes 11:1

Come Lord Jesus! Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. - Ecclesiastes 11:1

Mystery of God

Illustration of Ecclesiastes 11:5

Inspirational illustration of Ecclesiastes 11:5 -- 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.

Cross References for Ecclesiastes 11

Cross References Provided by Open Bible

The Berean Standard Bible

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern, clear, and faithful translation based on the best available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ideal for reading, study, and sharing, it entered the public domain in 2023. For more information, visit berean.bible.