Ecclesiastes, chapter 11
It Pays To Work Hard
e generous, and someday you will be rewarded.
2Share what you have with seven or eight others,
because you never know when disaster may strike.
3Rain clouds always bring rain;
trees always stay wherever they fall.
4If you worry about the weather and don't plant seeds,
you won't harvest a crop.
5 No one can explain how a baby breathes before it is born. So how can anyone explain what God does? After all, God created everything.
6 Plant your seeds early in the morning and keep working in the field until dark. Who knows? Your work might pay off, and your seeds might produce.
Enjoy Life and Remember God While You Are Young
The author emphasizes the importance of enjoying life each day, because life will soon end in death (11.8). Remembering God and appreciating God's creation are especially important when young, since growing old causes physical problems that make enjoying life more difficult.
Youth and Old Age
7Nothing on earth is more beautiful than the morning sun. 8Even if you have a very long life, you should try to enjoy each day, because darkness will come and will last a long time. Nothing makes sense.
9Be cheerful and enjoy life while you are young! Do what you want and find pleasure in what you see. But don't forget that God will judge you for everything you do.
10Rid yourself of all worry and pain, because the wonderful moments of youth quickly disappear.