Ecclesiastes , Sarah Barry
GOD, THE MAKER OF ALL THINGS
Passage: Ecclesiastes 11:1~10  
Key verse: 5
Invest in Many Ventures11 Ship(A) your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.(B)
2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
3 If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the path of the wind,(C)
or how the body is formed[a] in a mother’s womb,(D)
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let your hands not be idle,(E)
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
Remember Your Creator While Young7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.(F)
8 However many years anyone may live,
let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember(G) the days of darkness,
for there will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.
9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.(H)
10 So then, banish anxiety(I) from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.(J)
11 Ship(A) your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.(B)
2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
3 If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the path of the wind,(C)
or how the body is formed[a] in a mother’s womb,(D)
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let your hands not be idle,(E)
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.(F)
8 However many years anyone may live,
let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember(G) the days of darkness,
for there will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.
9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.(H)
10 So then, banish anxiety(I) from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.(J)
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 11:5 Or know how life (or the spirit) / enters the body being formed
Cross references
- Ecclesiastes 11:1 : ver 6; Isa 32:20; Hos 10:12
- Ecclesiastes 11:1 : S Dt 24:19
- Ecclesiastes 11:5 : Jn 3:8-10
- Ecclesiastes 11:5 : Ps 139:14-16
- Ecclesiastes 11:6 : S Ecc 9:10
- Ecclesiastes 11:7 : Ecc 7:11
- Ecclesiastes 11:8 : Ecc 12:1
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 : S Job 19:29; S Ecc 2:24; S 3:17
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 : Ps 94:19
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 : S Ecc 2:24
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. You cannot understand the work of God (1-6)
In these verses, the Teacher expounds on the idea that we cannot understand or predict the outcome of this life that God has given us. He urges us to invest in many measures because disaster may unexpectedly befall some of our investments. If we ship our grain overseas, we will soon receive a reward. So the Teacher urges us not to be idle, but to work hard, for we don't know which of our endeavors God will bless.
2. Enjoy the years God gives us (7-10).
These verses are full of talk about joy and light. We don't know how many years God has given us on this earth. Many of our days will be dark and meaningless. But God wants us to be happy and for our heart to give us joy. We should follow our hearts, but remember to fear God as we do.
Prayer: Lord, you gave me this life. Help me to enjoy it, remembering you always.
One Word: Enjoy the years God has given us