Ecclesiastes 11 – Compare Chapter Translations
Verse-by-verse comparison of Ecclesiastes 11 across supported Bible translations.
Verse 1
KJV Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
ASV Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.
WEB Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.
YLT Send forth thy bread on the face of the waters, For in the multitude of the days thou dost find it.
DRB Cast thy bread upon the running waters: for after a long time thou shalt find it again.
DBY Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.
GNV Cast thy bread vpon the waters: for after many daies thou shalt finde it.
LSB Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.
Verse 2
KJV Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
ASV Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
WEB Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.
YLT Give a portion to seven, and even to eight, For thou knowest not what evil is on the earth.
DRB Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
DBY Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
GNV Giue a portion to seuen, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what euill shalbe vpon ye earth.
LSB Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what calamity may occur on the earth.
Verse 3
KJV 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.
ASV If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.
WEB 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.
YLT If the thick clouds are full of rain, On the earth they empty <FI>themselves<Fi> ; And if a tree doth fall in the south or to the north, The place where the tree falleth, there it is.
DRB If the clouds be full, they will pour out rain upon the earth. If the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in what place soever it shall fall, there shall it be.
DBY If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
GNV If the clouds be full, they wil powre forth raine vpon the earth: and if the tree doe fall toward the South, or toward the North, in the place that the tree falleth, there it shalbe.
LSB If the clouds are full, they empty the rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.
Verse 4
KJV He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
ASV He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
WEB He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.
YLT Whoso is observing the wind soweth not, And whoso is looking on the thick clouds reapeth not.
DRB He that observeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that considereth the clouds, shall never reap.
DBY He that observeth the wind will not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds will not reap.
GNV He that obserueth ye winde, shall not sow, and he that regardeth the cloudes, shall not reape.
LSB He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
Verse 5
KJV 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.
ASV As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.
WEB 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.
YLT As thou knowest not what <FI>is<Fi> 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.
DRB As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones are joined together in the womb of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the works of God, who is the maker of all.
DBY As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, how the bones [grow] in the womb of her that is with child, even so thou knowest not the work of God who maketh all.
GNV As thou knowest not which is ye way of the spirit, nor how the bones doe growe in the wombe of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the worke of God that worketh all.
LSB 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 work of God who works all things.
Verse 6
KJV 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.
ASV In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
WEB 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.
YLT 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 <FI>are<Fi> good.
DRB In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thy hand cease: for thou knowest not which may rather spring up, this or that: and if both together, it shall be the better.
DBY In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
GNV In the morning sowe thy seede, and in the euening let not thine hand rest: for thou knowest not whither shall prosper, this or that, or whether both shalbe a like good.
LSB Sow your seed in the morning and do not put your hands down in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.
Verse 7
KJV Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
ASV Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
WEB Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the sun.
YLT Sweet also <FI>is<Fi> the light, And good for the eyes to see the sun.
DRB The light is sweet, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.
DBY Now the light is sweet, and pleasant is it to the eyes to see the sun;
GNV Surely the light is a pleasant thing: and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sunne.
LSB The light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
Verse 8
KJV 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.
ASV Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
WEB 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.
YLT 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 <FI>is<Fi> vanity.
DRB If a man live many years, and have rejoiced in them all, he must remember the darksome time, and the many days: which when they shall come, the things past shall be accused of vanity.
DBY 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.
GNV Though a man liue many yeeres, and in them all he reioyce, yet hee shall remember the daies of darkenesse, because they are manie, all that commeth is vanitie.
LSB Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him be glad in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be vanity.
Verse 9
KJV 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.
ASV 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, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
WEB 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.
YLT 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.
DRB Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart be in that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these God will bring thee into judgment.
DBY Rejoice, 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, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment.
GNV Reioyce, O yong man, in thy youth, and let thine heart cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth: and walke in the waies of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but knowe that for all these things, God wil bring thee to iudgement.
LSB Be glad, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be merry during the days of young manhood. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the sights of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.
Verse 10
KJV Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
ASV Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
WEB Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
YLT And turn aside anger from thy heart, And cause evil to pass from thy flesh, For the childhood and the age <FI>are<Fi> vanity!
DRB Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh. For youth and pleasure are vain.
DBY Then remove discontent from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.
GNV Therefore take away griefe out of thine heart, and cause euil to depart from thy flesh: for childehood and youth are vanitie.
LSB So, remove vexation from your heart and put away evil from your flesh because childhood and the prime of life are vanity.