Ecclesiastes 11–12

Invest in Many Ventures

Ship^a your grain across the sea;

after many days you may receive a return.^b

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.

Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

As you do not know the path of the wind,^c

or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,^d

so you cannot understand the work of God,

the Maker of all things.

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

Light is sweet,

and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.^a

However many years anyone may live,

let them enjoy them all.

But let them remember^b the days of darkness,

for there will be many.

Everything to come is meaningless.

You who are young, be happy while you are young,

and let your hearts 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.^c

So then, banish anxiety^d from your heart

and cast off the troubles of your body,

for youth and vigor are meaningless.^e

Remember^f your Creator

in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble^g come

and the years approach when you will say,

“I find no pleasure in them”—

before the sun and the light

and the moon and the stars grow dark,

and the clouds return after the rain;

when 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;

when 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;^h

when 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 homeⁱ

and mourners^j go about the streets.

Remember 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,

and the dust returns^k to the ground it came from,

and the spirit returns to God^l who gave it.^m

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.ⁿ

“Everything is meaningless!^o”

The Conclusion of the Matter

Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.^a The Teacher^b searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.^c

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails^d—given by one shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.^e

Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God^f and keep his commandments,^g

for this is the ^⌈duty^⌈ of every human being.^h

For God will bring every deed into judgment,ⁱ

including every hidden thing,^j

whether it is good or evil.