Cast thy bread ^a^†upon the waters: ^bfor thou shalt find it after many days. ²^cGive a portion to ^dseven, and also to eight; ^efor thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

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Footnotes

aComp. Isai. 32:20.
†Heb. upon the face of the waters. Gen. 1:2.
bSee Prov. 19:17.
c 1 Tim. 6:18, 19. See Matt. 5:42.
dSee Prov. 6:16.
eSee Eph. 5:16.

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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.

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.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Send your bread on the surface of the water,

for after many days you may find it.

Give a portion to seven or even to eight,

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

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.

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.