Ecclesiastes 11:5
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.
4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
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.
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.
7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- DARBY
- 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.
- BLB
- As you do not know what [is] the way of the wind, as the bones in the womb of the full [woman], so you do not know the works of God, who makes everything.
- ÅB
- Like så lite som du vet hva vei vinden farer, eller hvordan benene dannes i den fruktsommelige kvinnes liv, like så lite vet du hva Gud vil gjøre, han som gjør det alt sammen.
- OTB
- Som du er uvitende om vindens vei, og hvordan knoklene dannes i en gravid kvinnes livmor, slik kan du ikke forstå Guds gjerninger, Skaperen av alle ting.
- B1930
- Like så lite som du vet hvad vei vinden farer, eller hvorledes benene dannes i den fruktsommelige kvinnes liv, like så lite vet du hvad Gud vil gjøre, han som gjør det alt sammen.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
John 3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Read in contextPsalms 92:5
O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 8:17
Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
Read in contextRomans 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Read in contextIsaiah 40:28
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Read in contextPsalms 139:13–16
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
Read in contextPsalms 104:24
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 7:24
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
Read in context