Ecclesiastes 11:6

What does Ecclesiastes 11:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Ecclesiastes 11:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

American Standard Version · 1901

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

Darby Bible · 1890

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.

Context

v.5As 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.

v.6This passage

v.7Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:5

    What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.

  • John 4:36

    He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

  • Haggai 1:6

    Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

  • Mark 4:26

    And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth;

  • 2 Timothy 4:2

    preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:1

    For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.

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