1 Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don't know what evil will be on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be. 4 He who observes the wind won't sow; and he who regards the clouds won't reap. 5 As you don't know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don't know the work of God who does all. 6 In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don't withhold your hand; for you don't know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good. 7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity. 9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you 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 these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
There ought to be no division between Ecclesiastes 10:20 and Ecclesiastes 11:1.
As if in contrast to the self-indulgence described in Ecclesiastes 10:16-19, the opposite virtue, readiness to give to others, is inculcated. The use of the word "bread" in both Ecclesiastes 10:19 (see the note) and Ecclesiastes 11:1 points the contrast.
Give alms to all, Ecclesiastes 11:1-4. The works of God unknown to man, Ecclesiastes 11:5. Diligence necessary, Ecclesiastes 11:6. Prosperity frequently succeeded by adversity, Ecclesiastes 11:7, Ecclesiastes 11:8. There will be a day of judgment, Ecclesiastes 11:9, Ecclesiastes 11:10.
INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 11
This chapter begins with an exhortation to liberality to the poor, enforced by several reasons and arguments, and the objections to it removed; and the whole illustrated by various similes, Ecclesiastes 11:1; and then it is observed, that a life attended with outward prosperity and inward peace, and spent in doing good, is very delightful, and very desirable it is to have it continued; yet it should be remembered this will not be always, that many days of darkness in the grave will come; and after all the whole of a man's life is vanity, as is often inculcated, Ecclesiastes 11:7; and the chapter is closed with an ironic address to young men, designed to show them the folly and danger of sinful courses, to reform them from them, and to put them in mind of a future judgment, Ecclesiastes 11:9.
(Ecclesiastes 11:1-6) Exhortation to liberality.
(Ecclesiastes 11:7-10) An admonition to prepare for death, and to young persons to be religious.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.