Logos Bible Study

Ecclesiastes 11:1–3

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INVEST IN LIFE

11Send your bread on the surface of the water,t

for after many days you may find it.

2Give a portion to seven or even to eight,u

for you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth.

3If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth;

whether a tree falls to the south or the north,

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

Read in Logos

Cross references

  1. tDt 15:10; Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42; Gl 6:9–10; Heb 6:10
  2. uPs 112:9; Mt 5:42; Lk 6:30; 1Tm 6:18–19

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Cast your bread upon the waters,

for you will find it after many days.

Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,

for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.

If the clouds are full of rain,

they empty themselves on the earth,

and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,

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

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Ship your grain across the sea;

after many days you may receive a return.

Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;

you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

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.

NLTNew Living Translation

Send your grain across the seas,

and in time, profits will flow back to you.

But divide your investments among many places,

for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.

When clouds are heavy, the rains come down.

Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Send out your bread on the water,

for in many days you will find it.

Divide your share in seven or in eight,

for you do not know what disaster will happen on the earth.

When the clouds are full,

they empty rain on the earth.

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

the place where the tree falls—there it will be.

KJV 1900King James Version

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.