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Ecclesiastes 11
Expanded Bible
Ecclesiastes 11
Expanded Bible
Boldly Face the Future
11 ·Invest what you have [L Send/Cast/Throw your bread upon the waters],
because after ·a while you will get a return [L many days you may find it].
2 ·Invest what you have in several different businesses [L Give a portion to seven, even eight],
because you don’t know what ·disasters [evil] might ·happen [L occur in the land].
3 If clouds are full of rain,
they will shower on the earth.
A tree can fall to the north or south,
but it will stay where it falls.
4 Those who ·wait for perfect weather [L watch the wind]
will never ·plant seeds [sow];
those who look at every cloud
will never harvest crops.
5 You don’t know ·where the wind will blow [L the way of the wind],
and you don’t know how ·a baby grows inside its mother [L the bones/or body are/is formed in its mother’s womb].
In the same way, you don’t know ·what God is doing [the work of God],
or ·how he created everything [or who does everything].
6 Plant early in the morning,
and ·work until [L do not let your hand rest at] evening,
because you don’t know if this or that will succeed.
They might both do well.
Serve God While You Are Young
7 ·Sunshine [L Light] is sweet;
it is good ·to see the light of day [L for the eyes to see the sun].
8 People ought to enjoy every day of their lives,
·no matter how long they live [L if they live many years].
But they should also remember this:
·You will be dead a long time [L There will be many dark days].
Everything that happens then is useless [1:2].
9 Young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young;
·be happy [L let your heart be merry] while you are young.
·Do whatever your heart desires [L Follow the ways of your heart],
·whatever you want to do [L follow the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes].
But ·remember [L know] that God will ·judge you
for everything you do.
10 ·Don’t worry [L Put away anger from your heart],
and ·forget the troubles of [L turn away evil from] your body,
because youth and ·childhood [vitality] are useless [1:2].
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
Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.