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Ecclesiastes 11:3

Wisdom

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

2 Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

4 He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.

5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
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.
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.
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.
DARBY
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.
BLB
If the clouds are full of rain, they will pour out upon the earth; and if a tree falls in the south or in the north, [at] the place where the tree falls, there it will be.
ÅB
Når skyene blir fulle av regn, tømmer de det ut over jorden, og når et tre faller, enten det er mot syd eller mot nord, så blir treet liggende på det sted hvor det falt.
OTB
Når skyene er fulle, lar de regnet falle på jorden; og enten et tre faller mot sør eller mot nord, der det faller, der blir det liggende.
B1930
Når skyene blir fulle av regn, tømmer de det ut over jorden, og når et tre faller, enten det er mot syd eller mot nord, så blir treet liggende på det sted hvor det falt.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 65:9–13

    You attend to the earth and water it; with abundance You enrich it. The streams of God are full of water, for You prepare our grain by providing for the earth.

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  • Isaiah 55:10–11

    For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat,

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  • 1 John 3:17

    If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

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  • Luke 13:7

    So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

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  • 1 Kings 18:45

    Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

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  • Luke 16:22–26

    One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried.

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  • Matthew 3:10

    The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

    Read in context