Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:14

Invest in Many Ventures 1Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.

2Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

3If 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.

4Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

5As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed Or know how life (or the spirit) / enters the body being 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 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.

Remember Your Creator While Young 7Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

8However 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.

9You 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. 10So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.

1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—

2before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;

3when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim;

4when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint;

5when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.

6Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well,

7and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 9 and 10 “Everything is meaningless!”

The Conclusion of the Matter 9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.

10The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. 11The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. Or Shepherd

12Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

13Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.