Ecclesiastes 11 Commentary

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THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES The Search for Significance The Quest for Contentment The Pursuit of Purpose
Exploration			Exhortation
All is Vanity	Vanity of Doing	Vanity of Having	Vanity of Being	Using Life Well	Source of True Living
Eccl 1:1-18	Eccl 2:1-26	Eccl 3:1-6:12	Eccl 7:1-9:18	Eccl 10:1-11:10	Eccl 12:1-14
Declaration of Vanity	Demonstration of Vanity		Deliverance from Vanity
Subject	Sermons		Summary
Fickleness of Life Versus Fear of the Lord
Place: "Under the Sun"
Decades of Searching (in the days of King Solomon) circa 936BC
King Solomon Author

Ecclesiastes 11:1  Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.

KJV  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

NKJ  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.

NET  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Send your grain overseas, for after many days you will get a return.

BGT  Ecclesiastes 11:1 ἀπόστειλον τὸν ἄρτον σου ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ ὕδατος ὅτι ἐν πλήθει τῶν ἡμερῶν εὑρήσεις αὐτόν

LXE  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Send forth thy bread upon the face of the water: for thou shalt find it after many days.

CSB  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Send your bread on the surface of the waters, for after many days you may find it.

ESV  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

NIV  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.

NLT  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.

YLT  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Send forth thy bread on the face of the waters, For in the multitude of the days thou dost find it.

NJB  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread on the water, eventually you will recover it.

NRS  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back.

RSV  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

NAB  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters; after a long time you may find it again.

GWN  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Throw your bread on the surface of the water, because you will find it again after many days.

BBE  Ecclesiastes 11:1 Put out your bread on the face of the waters; for after a long time it will come back to you again.

• Cast: That is, says Bp. Lowth, "Sow thy seed or corn on the face of the waters;" in plain terms, sow without any hope of a harvest:  do good even to them on whom your benefactions seem thrown away.  Dr. Jebb has well illustrated it by the following passages:
•     "Vain are the favours done to vicious men;
•     Not vainer 'tis to sow the foaming deep.
•     The deep no pleasant harvest shall afford,
•     Nor will the wicked ever make return."
•     "To befriend the wicked is like sowing in the sea."  These,
•     indeed, invert this precept; nor is it extraordinary that they should;
•     "The one, frail human power alone produced,
•     The other, God."
• thy bread: De 15:7-11 Pr 11:24,25 22:9 Isa 32:8 
• waters: Heb. face of the waters, Isa 32:20 
• for: Ec 11:6 De 15:10 Ps 41:1,2 126:5,6 Pr 11:18 19:17 Mt 10:13,42 25:40 Lu 14:14 2Co 9:6 Ga 6:8-10 Heb 6:10 

Related Passages: 

Proverbs 19:17 One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed. 

Luke 6:38  “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure–pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” 

Galatians 6:9  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

2 Corinthians 9:6  Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Proverbs 11:24   There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. 

Isaiah 32:20  How blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters, Who let out freely the ox and the donkey.

LET GO 
AND RECEIVE

William Barrick - Sowing in the Morning, Sowing in the Evening. In conclusion, the Preacher determines to fear God, obey God, and enjoy life (Eccl 9:1–12:14) Ecclesiastes begins with a declaration that all is futile, enigmatic, or ephemeral (“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity,” Eccl 1:2). Solomon focuses on the apparent lack of human advantage in life’s labors “under the sun” (Ec 1:3). Indeed, he characterizes life on earth as endless cycle of sunrises and sunsets (Eccl 1:5). Now, at the end of the book, he looks “beyond his gloomy vistas to see God.” (McComiskey, borrow Ecclesiastes) Solomon realizes that life’s certainties (like death) and life’s uncertainties (like accidents and disasters) cannot be predicted (cf. Pr 27:1). However, a person can prepare for both sets of circumstances and enjoy God’s marvelous gift of life “under the sun.” How should someone live in the light of Solomon’s extended discourse? Kidner offers a concise, but appropriate summary of this section of the book: “Be bold! Be joyful! Be godly!” (The three referring respectively to Ec 11:1–6; Ec 11:7–10; and Ec 12:1–8. Kidner, A Time to Mourn,) Thus, Solomon carries on from the advice of Eccl 10, “Be wise!” Such instructions or exhortations characterize the last major section of the book (Eccl 11:1–12:8), proclaiming a call to decision and obedience. (Borrow Eaton, Ecclesiastes)

Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. The interpretation of this verse is not easy and there is a considerable divergence of interpretations! The classic interpretation, supported by Jewish and Christian commentators is that "Bread" = goods or resources, "Waters" = people in need, or uncertain circumstances and "Find it after many days" = God will bless your faithfulness.  A second interpretation is that this is a commercial venture metaphor which refers to ancient shipping/trade—sending grain or goods overseas. You “cast” your product into the unpredictable world of commerce. You trust that eventual profit will return after much time. This fits the economic themes of chapters 10–11 and the context of risk in work. A third interpretation is a call to bold faith in uncertainty. So take action despite uncertainty. Don’t wait for the perfect conditions (Ec 11:4) Be faithful and open-handed, even when outcomes seem unsure

ESV Study Bible (borrow) - To cast... bread upon the waters is a metaphor without any contemporary parallels, so interpreters are uncertain about its meaning. Three suggestions are most common: (1) It refers to maritime commerce. (2) It refers to taking steps to spread out one’s financial resources in multiple directions. (3) In older Jewish and Christian interpretation, it was taken to refer to giving to the poor, in which case finding it again represents others being kind in return.

John MacArthur - Take a calculated and wise step forward in life, like a farmer who throws his seed on the wet or marshy ground and waits for it to grow (cf. Isa 32:20). (See The MacArthur Bible) (ED: This view has few adherents).

Henry Morris has a more "spiritual application" for his interpretation of bread upon the waters.  The Hebrew word for "bread" could also be used for the "grain" from which bread is made. The metaphor is that of spreading spiritual seed far and wide, trusting eventually to find its fruit in redeemed lives.

Ryrie - Cast your bread on the surface of the waters. A metaphorical expression taken from the grain trade of a seaport town, illustrating the successful prospects of a bold business venture. 

William Barrick - What a Person Does Not Know (Eccl 11:1–6) Repeatedly Solomon has urged his readers to pursue the opportunities God gives “under the sun.” Now, in Eccl 11:1, he addresses the matter of exercising some faith in making an investment that entails risk. The opportunity involves either almsgiving (the traditional view) (Another view that has few adherents interprets the “bread” as a figure for seed that a farmer sows by casting it on soggy or wet ground; Jamieson, A Commentary) or commercial pursuits involving ocean-going ships. (Glenn, “Ecclesiastes,” The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 1002; Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, 338; Longman III, The Book of Ecclesiastes, 256; Bartholomew, Ecclesiastes, 337; Ryken, Ecclesiastes, 255.) Both of these involve the use of profits gained from one’s labors. If verse 1 deals with almsgiving, then Eccl 11:2 speaks of a distribution of gifts (Ryken, Ecclesiastes, 254–55, associates the word “portion” here with its use in Neh 8:10. NASU’s translation “Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight” is itself misleading, because the Hebrew reads literally, “Give a portion to seven and even to eight.” In addition, Deut 18:8 uses “portion” with regard to food.) to seven or even eight needy people, multiplying the odds that some are going to do exceedingly well with that which they have been given. Adherents to this view appeal to an Arab proverb (“Do good, throw your bread on the waters, and one day you will be rewarded”) (Longman, Ecclesiastes,) and Egyptian parallels (“Do a good deed and throw it in the water; when it dries you will find it”) (Brown, Ecclesiastes) for support. Texts like Proverbs 19:17 (“One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed”) lend further support to this approach involving a principle of ultimate compensation for generosity. Kaiser, taking the almsgiving viewpoint, rephrases Eccl 11:2, “‘Be liberal and generous to as many as you can and then some,’ . . . So, make as many friends as you can, for you never know when you yourself may need assistance.” (Borrow Kaiser, Ecclesiastes) In the New Testament a similar truth appears in Luke 16:9 (“make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings”).

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Ray Pritchard  - Something New Under the Sun - BREAD UPON THE WATERS Ecclesiastes 11:1—2

Several years ago I met Jack, a salesman who had changed careers when he was thirty-seven. I asked if it wasn't risky to leave his teaching position for the uncertain world of sales, especially since he had a wife and a young daughter to consider.

"Yes, it was risky," Jack said, "but I did it anyway."

Then he recalled the words his father once told him: "Son, I'm sixty-two now. I've been making decisions all my life. What percent of those decisions do you suppose were good decisions?" Jack figured maybe 40 to 45 percent of his father's decisions were good ones. "Son, that's high. I'm lucky if even 33 percent of my decisions turn out right.

"I'm old enough now that if I wanted to," his father added, "I could just stop making decisions. But if I stopped, that percentage would never change. It would stay at 33 percent until I die.

"Son, you can stop making decisions right now if you want to. If you do, you'll never get above where you are right now. But if you keep on making decisions— even when you're scared—you've got a chance to raise that average. And remember, you normally make better decisions as you get older because you have more experience in life."

That story illustrates a great principle. In Ecclesiastes 11:1-2, Solomon, who has looked at all the problems of the world, now challenges his readers to grab hold of life and take a few chances. Disaster is still just around the corner, but since you can't know how or when or even if it will come, your best course is to "cast your bread upon the waters"; that is, be diligent in your labors so that you may profit from them later.

Nothing has changed in Solomon's overall philosophy: He believes life itself is fleeting and frustrating. But as he begins to wrap up his journey toward reality, his tone seems to change. He's more upbeat, more positive, more encouraging of aggressive action.

Where there is no risk, there is no reward. As the apostle Paul wrote, "Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7 NASB). But if you never sow the seed, you never reap the harvest. In that case, you are like the man who hid his talent in the ground (Matthew 25:14-30).

All of us go through life making decisions every day. You can take no chances and stay right where you are. Or you can take a few chances and, like Jack's father, maybe raise your average. The choice is up to you.

Lord God, increase m y courage so that I may take advantage of every legitimate opportunity that comes m y way Amen.

SHINING THE LIGHT

• In what areas of your life have you been afraid to move forward for fear of failure? What steps of faith could you take in the next week?
• How would your life be different if you began to confront your fears?

MORE LIGHT FROM GOD'S WORD Read Psalm 56:11; Isaiah 43:1-2; and 2 Timothy 1:7.

Ecclesiastes 11:2  Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.

KJV  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

NKJ  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.

NET  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Divide your merchandise among seven or even eight investments, for you do not know what calamity may happen on earth.

BGT  Ecclesiastes 11:2 δὸς μερίδα τοῖς ἑπτὰ καί γε τοῖς ὀκτώ ὅτι οὐ γινώσκεις τί ἔσται πονηρὸν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν

LXE  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil there shall be upon the earth.

CSB  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Give a portion to seven or even to eight, for you don't know what disaster may happen on earth.

ESV  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.

NIV  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

NLT  Ecclesiastes 11:2 But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.

YLT  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Give a portion to seven, and even to eight, For thou knowest not what evil is on the earth.

NJB  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Offer a share to seven or to eight people, you can never tell what disaster may occur.

NRS  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Divide your means seven ways, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.

RSV  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what evil may happen on earth.

NAB  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Make seven or eight portions; you know not what misfortune may come upon the earth.

GWN  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Divide what you have into seven parts, or even into eight, because you don't know what disaster may happen on earth.

BBE  Ecclesiastes 11:2 Give a part to seven or even to eight, because you have no knowledge of the evil which will be on the earth.

• a portion: Ne 8:10 Es 9:19,22 Ps 112:9 Lu 6:30-35 1Ti 6:18,19 
• seven: Job 5:19 Pr 6:16 Mic 5:5 Mt 18:22 Lu 17:4 
• for: Da 4:27 Ac 11:28-30 Ga 6:1 Eph 5:16 Heb 13:3 

Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.

William Barrick - If, however, verse 1 refers to investment by means of commercial shipping, then verse 2 refers to the diversification of shipments and/or investments into seven or eight consignments, so that at least some ships survive the journeys and return with their holds filled. “Cast” (Eccl 11:1) actually provides a misleading translation that promotes the traditional viewpoint. However, the imperative more closely approximates “Send” or “Let loose”—more befitting a commercial enterprise for which ships are sent out to sea for years at a time before returning to their home port. Additional argumentation for the maritime understanding of these two verses includes the Solomonic history which bears witness to the ships of Solomon’s commercial fleet (1 Kgs 9:26–28; 10:22). Also, Proverbs 31:14 makes mention of both “ships” and “bread.” As for the later Arabic proverb, it “may have been influenced by the early ‘charitable’ interpretation of verse 1.”10 None of the Egyptian references parallels closely the use of “bread,” making them weak attestation to almsgiving in Ecclesiastes. The “seven, or even to eight” is the same “x + (x +1)” formula found elsewhere in the Old Testament (including Eccl 4:6, 12).11 This form of reference indicates that there are more potential entities that match the description than just the seven or even the eight—in other words, an indefinite number. However, in some situations the formula expresses the fullness of a condition or, here, an enterprise.12 Solomon does not mean by his words that commercial enterprise or almsgiving are “just a roll of the dice, gamble and nothing more. He is certain that the covenant people can count on eventual success, because God will guarantee it.”13 That which God grants, however, requires both faith14 and patience. Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–30 appears to illustrate the same truth. The parable condemns the man who fails to invest the one talent that his master had given him. He did not want to take any risks, so he lost all potential gain. In the end, his master took away even the gift he had received. Paralyzed with uncertainty, fear, and doubt, he lost the gift due to its disuse. The variety of interpretations and translations do not destroy the foundational truths of the text. For example, whether an interpreter settles on the charitable, agricultural, or commercial interpretation of Eccl 11:1–2, the concepts of investment, risk, and faith remain and the exhortation to action rather than paralysis still rises inexorably from the text. Eccl 11:2 concludes with “for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.” Three more times, Solomon highlights human ignorance (twice in Eccl 11: 5 and once in Eccl 11:6). The statement serves as the key to the entire passage. Knowing our ignorance forms the basis for a realistic outlook that depends upon a sovereign, omniscient God.

Ecclesiastes 11:3  If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.

KJV  Ecclesiastes 11:3 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.

NKJ  Ecclesiastes 11:3 If the clouds are full of rain, They empty themselves upon the earth; And if a tree falls to the south or the north, In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.

NET  Ecclesiastes 11:3 If the clouds are full of rain, they will empty themselves on the earth, and whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will lie wherever it falls.

BGT  Ecclesiastes 11:3 ἐὰν πληρωθῶσιν τὰ νέφη ὑετοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐκχέουσιν καὶ ἐὰν πέσῃ ξύλον ἐν τῷ νότῳ καὶ ἐὰν ἐν τῷ βορρᾷ τόπῳ οὗ πεσεῖται τὸ ξύλον ἐκεῖ ἔσται

LXE  Ecclesiastes 11:3 If the clouds be filled with rain, they pour it out upon the earth: and if a tree fall southward, or if it fall northward, in the place where the tree shall fall, there it shall be.

CSB  Ecclesiastes 11:3 If 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.

ESV  Ecclesiastes 11:3 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.

NIV  Ecclesiastes 11:3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie.

NLT  Ecclesiastes 11:3 When clouds are heavy, the rains come down. Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls.

YLT  Ecclesiastes 11:3 If the thick clouds are full of rain, On the earth they empty themselves; And if a tree doth fall in the south or to the north, The place where the tree falleth, there it is.

NJB  Ecclesiastes 11:3 When clouds are full of rain, they will shed it on the earth. If a tree falls, whether south or north, where it falls, there it will lie.

NRS  Ecclesiastes 11:3 When clouds are full, they empty rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.

RSV  Ecclesiastes 11:3 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.

NAB  Ecclesiastes 11:3 When the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, wherever it falls, there shall it lie.

GWN  Ecclesiastes 11:3 If the clouds are full of rain, they will let it pour down on the earth. If a tree falls north or south, the tree will remain where it fell.

BBE  Ecclesiastes 11:3 If the clouds are full of rain, they send it down on the earth; and if a tree comes down to the south, or the north, in whatever place it comes down, there it will be.

• the clouds: 1Ki 18:45 Ps 65:9-13 Isa 55:10,11 1Jn 3:17 
• if the tree: Mt 3:10 Lu 13:7 16:22-26 

If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies

William Barrick - Continuing the discussion of risk, Eccl 11:3 reveals that no one has control over when the rain falls (even though it will inevitably come) or where a tree might fall (which is entirely random).

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Ray Pritchard  - Something New Under the Sun - BOLDNESS: TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY Ecclesiastes 11:3-4

Do you think Solomon was a pessimist? Certainly some of his earlier comments about the calamities of life might be taken that way. He knows full well that the "best laid plans of mice and men" often go astray. Things don't always work out right—they sometimes don't work out at all. Blades grow dull, snakes bite people, walls collapse, the wicked triumph over the righteous, and death comes to all of us sooner or later, sometimes when we least expect it.

This is life as we experience it. What are you going to do? Shrug your shoulders and give up? Stay in bed? Pout about the frowning face of providence?

Consider the dark clouds that mean a storm is advancing over the horizon. The same storm that washes away coastal homes also brings needed rain to the farmer's crops. If the uncertainty of life makes you stay curled up under the covers, you've missed Solomon's point. While it's true that you may be wiped out tomorrow, it's also true that you may strike oil. You'll never know unless you dig another well. But one thing is sure—if you don't dig, you'll never find oil. If you don't plant, you'll never reap the harvest.

Perhaps you've heard the old proverb, "A watched pot never boils." You've got to run some risks to get ahead in the world. Some plans will fail, some crops won't grow, some sales calls won't pan out—so what? Others will succeed, you'll have more watermelons than you know what to do with, and you'll bag the largest order in the history of your company.

The biblical view comes down to this: Since God alone knows the future, we ought to make our plans, use our brains, study the situation, take all factors into consideration, seek wise counsel, do the best we can, and then leave the results to God. Don't be reckless—that's the path of certain ruin; but don't sit on your hands either. Pay your money, take your chances, sleep like a baby, and let God take care of the future.

Lord Jesus, when I am tempted to look at m y circumstances and despair, help me to remember that You calmed the storms before and You can do it again. Amen.

SHINING THE LIGHT

• How well do you handle failure? What lessons have you learned from your past mistakes?
• Are you gun-shy about the future? If so, what needs to change in your own heart before you can be bold again?

MORE LIGHT FROM GOD'S WORD Read Psalm 48:14; Mark 4:35-41; and 2 Corinthians 9:8.

Ecclesiastes 11:4  He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.

KJV  Ecclesiastes 11:4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

NKJ  Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

NET  Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who observes the clouds will not reap.

BGT  Ecclesiastes 11:4 τηρῶν ἄνεμον οὐ σπερεῖ καὶ βλέπων ἐν ταῖς νεφέλαις οὐ θερίσει

LXE  Ecclesiastes 11:4 He that observes the wind sows not; and he that looks at the clouds will not reap.

CSB  Ecclesiastes 11:4 One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.

ESV  Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

NIV  Ecclesiastes 11:4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

NLT  Ecclesiastes 11:4 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

YLT  Ecclesiastes 11:4 Whoso is observing the wind soweth not, And whoso is looking on the thick clouds reapeth not.

NJB  Ecclesiastes 11:4 Keep watching the wind and you will never sow, keep staring at the clouds and you will never reap.

NRS  Ecclesiastes 11:4 Whoever observes the wind will not sow; and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.

RSV  Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who observes the wind will not sow; and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

NAB  Ecclesiastes 11:4 One who pays heed to the wind will not sow, and one who watches the clouds will never reap.

GWN  Ecclesiastes 11:4 Whoever watches the wind will never plant. Whoever looks at the clouds will never harvest.

BBE  Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who is watching the wind will not get the seed planted, and he who is looking at the clouds will not get in the grain.

• Pr 3:27 20:4 22:13 

He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.

William Barrick - Whenever an individual waits for perfect conditions before either sowing or reaping (Eccl 11:4), failure and loss may very well follow. Over-hesitancy in making decisions involving risk can result in the best time passing by during inactivity. The paralysis of inaction results in lost opportunities. In the New Testament a similar agricultural metaphor makes its appearance in Paul’s description of the respective tasks of mankind and God in the spread of the gospel: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth” (1 Cor 3:6; cp. Prov 10:22).

Ecclesiastes 11:5  Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

KJV  Ecclesiastes 11:5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

NKJ  Ecclesiastes 11:5 As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.

NET  Ecclesiastes 11:5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones form in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

BGT  Ecclesiastes 11:5 ἐν οἷς οὐκ ἔστιν γινώσκων τίς ἡ ὁδὸς τοῦ πνεύματος ὡς ὀστᾶ ἐν γαστρὶ τῆς κυοφορούσης οὕτως οὐ γνώσῃ τὰ ποιήματα τοῦ θεοῦ ὅσα ποιήσει σὺν τὰ πάντα

LXE  Ecclesiastes 11:5 Among whom none knows what is the way of the wind: as the bones are hid in the womb of a pregnant woman, so thou shalt not know the works of God, even all things whatsoever he shall do.

CSB  Ecclesiastes 11:5 Just as you don't know the path of the wind, or how bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you don't know the work of God who makes everything.

ESV  Ecclesiastes 11:5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

NIV  Ecclesiastes 11:5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

NLT  Ecclesiastes 11:5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother's womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

YLT  Ecclesiastes 11:5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, How -- bones in the womb of the full one, So thou knowest not the work of God who maketh the whole.

NJB  Ecclesiastes 11:5 You do not understand how the wind blows, or how the embryo grows in a woman's womb: no more can you understand the work of God, the Creator of all.

NRS  Ecclesiastes 11:5 Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother's womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.

RSV  Ecclesiastes 11:5 As you do not know how the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

NAB  Ecclesiastes 11:5 Just as you know not how the breath of life fashions the human frame in the mother's womb, So you know not the work of God which he is accomplishing in the universe.

GWN  Ecclesiastes 11:5 Just as you don't know how the breath of life enters the limbs of a child within its mother's womb, you also don't understand how God, who made everything, works.

BBE  Ecclesiastes 11:5 As you have no knowledge of the way of the wind, or of the growth of the bones in the body of her who is with child, even so you have no knowledge of the works of God who has made all.

• thou knowest not what: Joh 3:8 
• nor: Ps 139:14,15 
• even: Ec 7:24 8:17 Job 5:9 26:5-14 36:24-33 37:23 38:4-41 39:1-41:34 Ps 40:5 92:5 104:24 Isa 40:28 Ro 11:33 

Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

William Barrick - Natural phenomena within God’s control remain mysterious to mankind (Eccl 11:5). The wind’s path cannot always be charted (cf. John 3:8) and the bones of a fetus can form in unexpected ways inside the womb (cf. Ps 139:13–16).15 Both are basically invisible and outside the control of mankind (cp. Eccl 8:8).16 God, as the Maker of all things, produces the wind’s patterns as well as the bones for the unborn infant. The very fact that He is in control demonstrates that He governs all things and people are not in control. Mankind’s ignorance of the work of God (cp. Eccl 8:17) forms an ongoing theme in the final chapters of Ecclesiastes.

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Ray Pritchard  - Something New Under the Sun - GET BUSY…NOW! Ecclesiastes 11:5-6

Life is uncertain. So what? Solomon argues in favor of bold action precisely because you don't know what might happen tomorrow. Get up early, he says, and stay up late. Don't veg in front of the TV. Take every opportunity God gives you and make the best of it.

This practical advice reminds me of a friend who could do it all—sing, teach, lead music; he was a whiz at construction and knew how to fix cars, plus he had attended seminary. One day I asked him about his future. Did he want to be a pastor or teacher or enter some other vocation? Did he hope to get married? He answered that he had run into one of his old seminary professors recently and asked him for some advice. "You're suffering from the curse of too many options," the professor told him.

That's the problem of people who feel like they have too many choices and therefore don't know which way to go. The professor had been raised on a farm and when he graduated from high school, he could have either stayed on the farm or gone to college. So he went to college. When he graduated, he could have either gone back to the farm or to seminary. So he went to seminary. When he graduated, he had no choices, so he went to graduate school. His only job offer came from the seminary he attended, so he took it and remains on the faculty to this day.

"Most people dream of having more options, but I have been blessed by having almost none at all," the professor said. "At each stage of my life, I generally have had only one choice to make, so I made it and kept moving ahead." Solomon would heartily agree with that philosophy*

Would you like to know the "secret" to knowing God's will? If there is a "secret" to be found, it is in doing today what you already know to be God's will. Just get up, get out of bed, take a shower, put on your clothes, eat breakfast, and do what has to be done. As you do God's will today, you will discover God's will for tomorrow.

The moral of the story: Don't worry about your options. Serve the Lord today and tomorrow will take care of itself.

Father, save me from the folly of idle speculation about tomorrow when I should be busy doing m y job today. Amen.

SHINING THE LIGHT

• What project, dream, idea, or initiative have you been postponing? When do you plan to get started?
• What's the first step you need to take? So what are you waiting for?

MORE LIGHT FROM GOD'S WORD Read Joshua 6:1-5; Psalm 139:13-16; and 1 Corinthians 15:58.

Ecclesiastes 11:6  Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

KJV  Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

NKJ  Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.

NET  Ecclesiastes 11:6 Sow your seed in the morning, and do not stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed– whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally.

BGT  Ecclesiastes 11:6 ἐν πρωίᾳ σπεῖρον τὸ σπέρμα σου καὶ εἰς ἑσπέραν μὴ ἀφέτω ἡ χείρ σου ὅτι οὐ γινώσκεις ποῖον στοιχήσει ἢ τοῦτο ἢ τοῦτο καὶ ἐὰν τὰ δύο ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἀγαθά

LXE  Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thine hand be slack: for thou knowest not what sort shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether both shall be good alike.

CSB  Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hand rest, because you don't know which will succeed, whether one or the other, or if both of them will be equally good.

ESV  Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

NIV  Ecclesiastes 11:6 Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.

NLT  Ecclesiastes 11:6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don't know if profit will come from one activity or another-- or maybe both.

YLT  Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, And at even withdraw not thy hand, For thou knowest not which is right, this or that, Or whether both of them alike are good.

NJB  Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning, sow your seed, until evening, do not cease from labour, for of any two things you do not know which will succeed, or which of the two is the better.

NRS  Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

RSV  Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

NAB  Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening let not your hand be idle: For you know not which of the two will be successful, or whether both alike will turn out well.

GWN  Ecclesiastes 11:6 Plant your seed in the morning, and don't let your hands rest until evening. You don't know whether this field or that field will be profitable or whether both of them will turn out equally well.

BBE  Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning put your seed into the earth, and till the evening let not your hand be at rest; because you are not certain which will do well, this or that -- or if the two will be equally good.

• sow: Ec 9:10 Isa 55:10 Ho 10:12 Mk 4:26-29 Joh 4:36-38 2Co 9:6 2Ti 4:2 
• thou knowest: Ec 9:1 Hag 1:6-11 2:17-19 Zec 8:11,12 Ac 11:20,21 1Co 3:5-7 2Co 9:10,11 

Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good

William Barrick - Opportunity knocks only at certain times. If the conditions are good enough for sowing seed in the field, the farmer must remain active and pursue his occupation (Eccl 11:6). He cannot know whether the sowing should be in the morning or the evening, but the day gives the opportunity. The text expresses the continuous labor that a wise person must expend in order to see the harvest. God alone gives the field’s increase, the enterprise’s profits, or the labor’s success, but wise people must labor in order to see such results (cf. Eccl 9:10). Tidball summarizes Eccl 11:3–5 under three headings: “Don’t be paralyzed by inevitability” (Eccl 11:3), “Don’t be paralyzed by speculation” (Eccl 11:4), and “Don’t be paralyzed by ignorance” (Eccl 11:5).17 Again, New Testament texts reflect the same instruction via a similar metaphor: “he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully” (2 Cor 9:6) and “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal 6:9).

Ecclesiastes 11:7  The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

KJV  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

NKJ  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun;

NET  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun.

BGT  Ecclesiastes 11:7 καὶ γλυκὺ τὸ φῶς καὶ ἀγαθὸν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς τοῦ βλέπειν σὺν τὸν ἥλιον

LXE  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Moreover the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

CSB  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasing for the eyes to see the sun.

ESV  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

NIV  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

NLT  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.

YLT  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Sweet also is the light, And good for the eyes to see the sun.

NJB  Ecclesiastes 11:7 How sweet light is, how delightful it is to see the sun!

NRS  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

RSV  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun.

NAB  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet! and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

GWN  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet, and it is good for one's eyes to see the sun.

BBE  Ecclesiastes 11:7 Truly the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

• the light: Job 33:28,30 Ps 56:13 Pr 15:30 29:13 
• a pleasant: Ec 7:11 Ps 84:11 Mt 5:45 

The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

William Barrick - Rejoice in the Light (Eccl 11:7–8) Life presents wonderful opportunities that mankind must enjoy. Being “under the sun” has its limitations, but existence in the light (being able to “see the sun”; cf. Eccl 6:5; 7:11) is far more pleasant than the alternative (Eccl 11:7).

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Ray Pritchard  - Something New Under the Sun - GOD IS IN THE DETAILS Ecclesiastes 11:7-8

Every day above ground is a bonus." A friend said that last night and I listened carefully because he has just survived difficult surgery to replace a heart valve. Life is good and light is sweet, especially when you've dodged the proverbial bullet and gained a few extra years.

To paraphrase Solomon in Ecclesiastes 11:7-8,"Enjoy life, because you're going to be dead a lot longer than you're going to be alive." A morbid thought, perhaps, but one that no human experience can contradict.

Here's a crucial observation as we apply this truth: About 99 percent of life is ordinary. Many of us struggle with that truth, because we secretly dream of a life of perpetual excitement and unending happiness. A man takes a new job with high hopes and big dreams, only  to find that most of his days are filled with the same things he's been doing for the last five years. Or a young woman dreams of a happy married life where she can prepare beautiful dinners and take leisurely strolls with her husband. In her eyes the future seems bright and free from difficulty. But soon enough she discovers that her husband can be grouchy and unappreciative of her most creative culinary efforts. Add to that dirty diapers, a living room that needs straightening four times a day, wet snowsuits, runny noses, dirty hands, and a sink that drips twenty-four hours a day.

Life is more than fun and games. It's also cleaning the oven, paying the bills, and doing the laundry.

Let's face it. Most of our days will be spent doing the "busywork" of life. We get up, get dressed, get the kids ready, eat breakfast, go to work (or to school), see people, attend meetings, answer questions, fill out forms, type letters, make phone calls, review files, make notes, keep appointments, clear our desk, go home, unwind, eat supper, walk the dog, talk to the children, watch TV, and go to bed. Then we get up the next morning and do it again.

Such is life. A great deal of what we do every day may seem mundane and even trivial, but that's where the will of God begins for you and me. Blessed is that man who enjoys the routine, blessed is that woman who delights in the mundane, for they shall discover that God is in the details of life.

Sovereign Lord, open m y  eyes that I might see how blessed I really am. Amen.

SHINING THE LIGHT

• Think of the three most joyful people you know. What qualities do they share in common?
• Take sixty seconds and count your blessings. Then thank God for them.

MORE LIGHT FROM GOD'S WORD Read Psalm 90; Ephesians 5:15-17; and Colossians 3:17.

Ecclesiastes 11:8  Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

KJV  Ecclesiastes 11:8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

NKJ  Ecclesiastes 11:8 But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all, Yet let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many. All that is coming is vanity.

NET  Ecclesiastes 11:8 So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many– all that is about to come is obscure.

BGT  Ecclesiastes 11:8 ὅτι καὶ ἐὰν ἔτη πολλὰ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς εὐφρανθήσεται καὶ μνησθήσεται τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ σκότους ὅτι πολλαὶ ἔσονται πᾶν τὸ ἐρχόμενον ματαιότης

LXE  Ecclesiastes 11:8 For even if a man should live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.

CSB  Ecclesiastes 11:8 Indeed, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many. All that comes is futile.

ESV  Ecclesiastes 11:8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

NIV  Ecclesiastes 11:8 However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.

NLT  Ecclesiastes 11:8 When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.

YLT  Ecclesiastes 11:8 But, if man liveth many years, In all of them let him rejoice, And remember the days of darkness, For they are many! all that is coming is vanity.

NJB  Ecclesiastes 11:8 However many years you live, enjoy them all, but remember, the days of darkness will be many: futility awaits you at the end.

NRS  Ecclesiastes 11:8 Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

RSV  Ecclesiastes 11:8 For if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

NAB  Ecclesiastes 11:8 However many years a man may live, let him, as he enjoys them all, remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that is to come is vanity.

GWN  Ecclesiastes 11:8 Even though people may live for many years, they should enjoy every one of them. But they should also remember there will be many dark days. Everything that is coming is pointless.

BBE  Ecclesiastes 11:8 But even if a man's life is long and he has joy in all his years, let him keep in mind the dark days, because they will be great in number. Whatever may come is to no purpose.

• if a  man, Ec 6:6 8:12 
• rejoice: Ec 3:12,13 5:18-20 8:15 
• yet: Ec 7:14 12:1-5 De 32:29 Job 10:22 14:10 15:23 18:18 Jer 13:16 Joe 2:2 Mt 22:13  Joh 12:35 Jude 1:18 
• All that: Ec 2:1-11,15,17,19,21-23,26 4:8,16 5:15,16 6:11 

Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all,

William Barrick - Regardless of the number of years God might grant to any individual, “let him rejoice in them all” (Eccl 11:8a). God’s gift of life should be enjoyed, not just endured. Until this point in the book, other enjoyment passages have “followed enigmatic sections. This shift to having the carpe diem section preface and structure the enigmatic section about death is significant, as is the introduction of ‘remember,’ which has not yet occurred in a carpe diem passage.”18

and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many.

William Barrick - At the same time as one must rejoice, one must also “remember the days of darkness” (Eccl 11:8b). Since these dark days occupy a large amount of time (“for they will be many”), death does not seem an adequate reference—suffering, old age, and dying do fit the description, however. These days consist of times of trouble in which a person finds no delight (cp. Eccl 12:1).19 The trials and travails of a lifetime just serve to make the joys all the more pleasant and sweeter. Psalm 118:24 reminds the godly of the right daily attitude:  This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Everything that is to come will be futility.

William Barrick - Disregard for rejoicing and remembering leads to great disappointment, because everything yet to come will pass very swiftly (Eccl 11:8c). “Futility” (hebel) in this setting refers to that which is brief and ephemeral. “Everything” must refer to the latter days of life, including the time of dying, rather than to the afterlife.

Ecclesiastes 11:9  Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.

KJV  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

NKJ  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.

NET  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.

BGT  Ecclesiastes 11:9 εὐφραίνου νεανίσκε ἐν νεότητί σου καὶ ἀγαθυνάτω σε ἡ καρδία σου ἐν ἡμέραις νεότητός σου καὶ περιπάτει ἐν ὁδοῖς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐν ὁράσει ὀφθαλμῶν σου καὶ γνῶθι ὅτι ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις ἄξει σε ὁ θεὸς ἐν κρίσει

LXE  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart blameless, but not in the sight of thine eyes: yet know that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement.

CSB  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment.

ESV  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

NIV  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Be happy, young man, 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 to judgment.

NLT  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Young people, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.

YLT  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy childhood, And let thy heart gladden thee in days of thy youth, And walk in the ways of thy heart, And in the sight of thine eyes, And know thou that for all these, Doth God bring thee into judgment.

NJB  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Young man, enjoy yourself while you are young, make the most of the days of your youth, follow the prompting and desire of heart and eye, but remember, God will call you to account for everything.

NRS  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

RSV  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

NAB  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand that as regards all this God will bring you to judgment.

GWN  Ecclesiastes 11:9 You young people should enjoy yourselves while you're young. You should let your hearts make you happy when you're young. Follow wherever your heart leads you and whatever your eyes see. But realize that God will make you give an account for all these things when he judges everyone.

BBE  Ecclesiastes 11:9 Have joy, O young man, while you are young; and let your heart be glad in the days of your strength, and go in the ways of your heart, and in the desire of your eyes; but be certain that for all these things God will be your judge.

• Rejoice: 1Ki 18:27 22:15 Lu 15:12,13 
• in thy youth: Ec 12:1 1Ki 18:12 La 3:27 
• walk: Nu 15:30 22:32 De 29:19 Job 31:7 Ps 81:12 Jer 7:24 23:17 Jer 44:16,17 Ac 14:16 Eph 2:2,3 1Pe 4:3,4 
• in the sight: Ec 2:10 Ge 3:6 6:2 Jos 7:21 2Sa 11:2-4 Mt 5:28 1Jn 2:15,16 
• know: Ec 3:17 12:14 Ps 50:4-6 Ac 17:30,31 24:25 Ro 2:5-11 14:10 1Co 4:5 2Co 5:10 2Pe 3:7 Heb 9:27 Rev 20:12-15 

Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes.

William Barrick - Again, Rejoice (Eccl 11:9–10) Just as the Apostle Paul repeats the command to rejoice (“Rejoice, and again I say, rejoice,” Phil 4:4), so King Solomon repeats the identical command (Eccl 11:8, 9).20 However, the second time he addresses the command specifically to the young man. Youth passes quickly, so its opportunities for enjoying life will be few. The reader of Ecclesiastes should note that Solomon does not instruct young people to rejoice that they are young, but while they are young.21 He tells the young to put in place the theological foundation for living as early as possible.22 When the youth becomes a man, he enters yet another brief season of life. During his manhood, he needs to allow his heart to enjoy life’s pleasantness. “Like a bubble the days of our ‘youth’ soon burst, so we have to clutch them while we can.”23
To many readers, Solomon’s instruction (“follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes”) sounds hedonistic and reckless. Those who interpret the text in this fashion contrast it with Numbers 15:39. Numbers speaks of the way that the tassels with a blue cord on the fringes of the Israelites’ garments will remind them to obey the Lord’s commandments rather than their own lusts. Ignoring the context of one or both passages provides the only means by which the two can be confused or made to be contradictory. Due to the very consistent and careful conclusions Solomon reaches throughout the book (and especially in its final chapter), Longman’s characterization of the writer as “a confused, skeptical wise man who vacillates between the traditional doctrine in which he was trained and the harsh realities of life”24 seems unnecessary and overly skeptical itself.

Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things

William Barrick - Solomon does not leave this instruction without qualification. In a context where “you do not know” occurs four times (Eccl 11:2, 5, 6), he now says in a positive way, “Yet know” (Eccl 11: 9c). He reminds the young man that he must keep in mind that God will judge him for all that does not meet divine approval (cp. Eccl 9:7). The Hebrew employs a definite article on both “God” and “judgment” (“the God will bring you into the judgment”).25 Such grammar might indicate that Solomon has a single, specific judgment in mind.26 In other words, a reality exists beyond this life and that reality includes divine retribution.27 Hebrews 9:27 proclaims the same basic theological truth: “it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” Priority, therefore must be given to God and to His will as revealed in His Word. No one should ever make their own desires the priority. Solomon encourages innocent, God-approved enjoyment of life’s gifts. Brown compares Ecclesiastes 11:9 with texts like Proverbs 2:11–14 and concludes that “the old sage, much like a typical grandparent, provides the necessary balance to the harsh admonitions of the parental voice in Proverbs. The combined effect is the formative education of youth.”28

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Ray Pritchard  - Something New Under the Sun - GOD’S WORD TO PARTY ANIMALS Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

Sheila (not her real name) became a widow several years ago. She takes pride in her appearance and has a very pleasant personality. Even a casual observer would understand that she likes and appreciates the finer things of life. The little things give it away—her clothes, the way she carries herself, her conversation, the car she drives.

In the years since her husband's death she has never seriously dated anyone. No interest, not the right kind of men, plenty of things to keep her busy, lots of friends to spend time with. "What would I want with another man in my life?" she says, not meaning to ask a question, really, but simply stating a fact.

Not long ago she went to a wedding where some old family friends introduced her to a man from out of town. He was charming, witty, and great fun.

The next day they, along with two other couples, went for a boat ride on the river. They laughed, talked, ate fried chicken, and generally had a ball. Afterwards, it was off to a nice restaurant at the marina.

Finally, the evening was almost over. One of the couples loaned the new man their car so he could take Sheila home. When they arrived at her house, they went inside, talked a bit, and then the man asked a question.

"Can you get pregnant?" The lady was shocked but recovered in time to say no. His next question got right to the point, "Do you mind if I sleep here tonight?" This time her answer was quick, almost, she told me later, in the same tone as she speaks to her children, "Oh no, I couldn't do that." He left and has not called her since.

When telling me the story later, Sheila commented, "I could never do what he was asking. I would feel guilty the rest of my life."

There are two quick morals to this little tale. First, no one ever outgrows temptation; that Sheila was an older woman did not matter. Temptation may come in different forms, but come it will. If ever you let down your guard, in that moment Satan will find your weakness and trap you. Second, the best way to defeat temptation is to refuse to take the tiniest step in a wrong direction. Let others stutter and stammer and flirt with danger. Remember the two-letter word that starts with η and ends with o. It can get you out of trouble and save you from enormous heartache. When temptation comes knocking at your door, just say no.

Father, help me to make wise choices today so that a guilty conscience will not keep me awake tonight. Amen.

SHINING THE LIGHT

• To what extent does the pursuit of pleasure characterize life in our society? Examples, please!
• If being a party animal doesn't really satisfy, why do so many people keep looking there? What happens when we make personal pleasure the ultimate goal of life?

MORE LIGHT FROM GOD'S WORD Read Psalm 33:1-3; 1 Corinthians 10:31; and Titus 2:11-14.

Ecclesiastes 11:10  So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

KJV  Ecclesiastes 11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

NKJ  Ecclesiastes 11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity.

NET  Ecclesiastes 11:10 Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

BGT  Ecclesiastes 11:10 καὶ ἀπόστησον θυμὸν ἀπὸ καρδίας σου καὶ παράγαγε πονηρίαν ἀπὸ σαρκός σου ὅτι ἡ νεότης καὶ ἡ ἄνοια ματαιότης

LXE  Ecclesiastes 11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for youth and folly are vanity.

CSB  Ecclesiastes 11:10 Remove sorrow from your heart, and put away pain from your flesh, because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

ESV  Ecclesiastes 11:10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

NIV  Ecclesiastes 11:10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.

NLT  Ecclesiastes 11:10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.

YLT  Ecclesiastes 11:10 And turn aside anger from thy heart, And cause evil to pass from thy flesh, For the childhood and the age are vanity!

NJB  Ecclesiastes 11:10 Rid your heart of indignation, keep your body clear of suffering, though youth and the age of black hair are both futile.

NRS  Ecclesiastes 11:10 Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

RSV  Ecclesiastes 11:10 Remove vexation from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

NAB  Ecclesiastes 11:10 Ward off grief from your heart and put away trouble from your presence, though the dawn of youth is fleeting.

GWN  Ecclesiastes 11:10 Get rid of what troubles you or wears down your body, because childhood and youth are pointless.

BBE  Ecclesiastes 11:10 So put away trouble from your heart, and sorrow from your flesh; because the early years and the best years are to no purpose.

• remove: Ec 12:1 Job 13:26 Ps 25:7 2Pe 3:11-14 
• sorrow: or, anger, Ps 90:7-11 
• and put: Job 20:11 2Co 7:1 2Ti 2:22 
• for: Ec 1:2,14 Ps 39:5 Pr 22:15 

So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

William Barrick - Therefore, people must “remove grief and anger” from their hearts and “put away pain” from their bodies, because the times of their lives “are fleeting” (Eccl 11:10). Mankind must never focus on the negatives to the extent that they miss the pleasant opportunities that God gives for their enjoyment. Enjoying the good things requires the proper perspective on the bad things in life. After all, the bad is equally ephemeral. “Grief and anger” represents a single Hebrew word occurring seven times in Ecclesiastes. In Eccl 1:18 and Eccl 2:23 it is parallel to “pain.” In Eccl 5:16 the NASU translates the word as “vexation,” in the description of eating in darkness “with great vexation, sickness and anger.” But, in 7:3 Solomon contrasts it with laughter and happiness, making it an equivalent of sadness. Occurring twice in 7:9, “anger” seems most appropriate in that context. As Ryken points out, “This is not a call to deny the very real suffering that everyone experiences. Nor is it a call to escape pain by living for pleasure. Rather, it is a call to take care of our mental and physical health.”29

Questions for study:
        • What plans do you have to take some risks in order to serve God faithfully and trust Him fully?
        • Over what kinds of things in your life do you feel that you have no control?
        • What are the perfect conditions for which you wait before making decisions or before doing something for Christ?
        • What are the pleasant things you enjoy in life “under the sun”?
        • What are some of your memories regarding your “days of darkness”?
        • How can young and old alike enjoy life with a balanced perspective and a sense of accountability?
        • How can you “remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body”?