The Bible — World English Bible

Ecclesiastes 11

In brief

Ecclesiastes 11 invites us to act in spite of uncertainty. The wise man advises giving generously and sowing morning and evening without waiting for perfect conditions, because we do not know the work of God. He then invites us to enjoy the light of life and tells the young man to rejoice in his youth, knowing that God will bring everyone into judgment. The chapter prepares the conclusion of the book in chapter 12.

The chapter in 3 parts

  1. v. 1-2Casting your bread on the waters: generosity
  2. v. 3-6Sowing without waiting for the wind: acting despite uncertainty
  3. v. 7-10Rejoicing in life, before the judgment of God

1Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.

2Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.

3If 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.

4He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.

5As 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.

6In 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.

7Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.

8Yes, 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.

9Rejoice, 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.

10Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Key verses

Verse 1
Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.

The image of casting your bread on the waters is a call to generosity and confident risk-taking. The text affirms that with time the bread will be found again, without saying how.

Verse 4
He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.

Whoever keeps watching the wind does not sow, and whoever keeps looking at the clouds does not reap. The verse denounces the paralysis that waits for perfect conditions.

Verse 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.

The wise man says to sow in the morning and not to let your hand rest in the evening, because we do not know what will succeed. We act diligently, without being able to control everything.

Verse 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.

The young man is invited to rejoice, but the verse adds that God will call him into judgment. Joy and responsibility go together: joy is not cut off from the fear of God.

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What the sermons say

Ecclesiastes 12: Fear God, Remember Your CreatorThe preacher at Calvary Chapel Paris links verse 9 to chapter 12: the Creator wants the young person's joy, and in Christ, being called into judgment no longer means being condemned (Romans 8:1).Read the summary →The Word, Nourishment for the SoulThe preacher tells how, at seventeen, a pastor entrusted verse 1 to him when handing him a youth group. Casting your bread means sharing the Word you have received.Read the summary →Ecclesiastes 10-11: Four Follies to Leave Behind for a Wise LifeThe series on Ecclesiastes reads the chapter as the language of a wise man. Rejoicing in verse 9 is not only permitted but commanded: God wants you to enjoy the life he gives, in the fear of his judgment.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Ecclesiastes 11

What does casting your bread on the waters mean (Ecclesiastes 11:1)?

The expression invites us to give and invest generously, without calculating or waiting for an immediate return. The text promises that over time we will find again what we have given. Commentators see in it either advice of prudence in trade, or a call to charity, or both: acting with confidence even without visibility.

What does Ecclesiastes 11:9 mean?

The wise man invites the young person to rejoice in his youth and to follow the desires of his heart, but adds that God will call him into judgment. Joy is wanted by God, and it comes with responsibility before him. The verse avoids unrestrained pleasure just as much as religious sadness.

What is the message of Ecclesiastes 11?

We cannot foresee or control everything, but that justifies neither inaction nor fear. The chapter calls us to give, to sow every day, to enjoy life and to remember that God will judge. It prepares the conclusion of the book: fearing God in the midst of uncertainty.

Articles quoting Ecclesiastes 11

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World English Bible translation — public domain.