1 Cast thy bread upon the running waters: for after a long time thou shalt find it again. 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, they will pour out rain upon the earth. If the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in what place soever it shall fall, there shall it be. 4 He that observeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that considereth the clouds, shall never reap. 5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones are joined together in the womb of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the works of God, who is the maker of all. 6 In the morning sow thy seed, and In the evening let not thy hand cease: for thou knowest not which may rather spring up, this or that: and if both together, it shall be the better. 7 The light is sweet, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun. 8 If a man live many years, and have rejoiced in them all, he must remember the darksome time, and the many days: which when they shall come, the things past shall be accused of vanity. 9 Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart be in that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh. For youth and pleasure are vain.
Ecclesiastes · Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Ecclesiastes 11 Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (10)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Ecclesiastes 11:6; Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 10:42; Hebrews 6:10; 2 Corinthians 9:6
- 2 1 Timothy 6:18–19; Job 5:19; Psalm 112:9; Luke 6:30–35; Proverbs 6:16
- 3 Psalm 65:9–13; Isaiah 55:10–11; 1 John 3:17; Luke 13:7; 1 Kings 18:45
- 4 Proverbs 20:4; Proverbs 3:27; Proverbs 22:13
- 5 John 3:8; Psalm 92:5; Ecclesiastes 8:17; Romans 11:33; Isaiah 40:28
- 6 2 Corinthians 9:10–11; Isaiah 55:10; Haggai 1:6–11; Hosea 10:12; 2 Corinthians 9:6
- 7 Ecclesiastes 7:11; Matthew 5:45; Proverbs 15:30; Psalm 84:11; Job 33:30
- 8 John 12:35; Deuteronomy 32:29; Ecclesiastes 7:14; Joel 2:2; Job 14:10
- 9 Ecclesiastes 12:14; 1 John 2:15–16; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Ecclesiastes 3:17; Lamentations 3:27
- 10 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Timothy 2:22; Ecclesiastes 1:2; Ecclesiastes 1:14; Ecclesiastes 12:1
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
This coming of the Lord, and the end of the world, were known to the Preacher; who says, Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and the rest; Therefore remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh;...and remember thy Creator...or ever the evil days come,....or ever the sun, and the light, and the moon, and …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
Further, observe that the number seven denotes all the present time, as the most wise Solomon says, to give a portion to seven and also to eight.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 9 (1899)