Ecclesiastes 11:6

Good News Translation

Do your planting in the morning and in the evening, too. You never know whether it will all grow well or whether one planting will do better than the other.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
In the morning sow your seed,and at evening do not let your hand rest,because you don’t know which will succeed,whether one or the other,or if both of them will be equally good.

Hebrew Names Version
In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening don't withhold your hand; For you don't know which will prosper, whether this or that, Or whether they both will be equally good.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

New American Standard Bible
Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether one or the other will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

New Century Version
Plant early in the morning, and work until evening, because you don't know if this or that will succeed. They might both do well.

Amplified Bible
Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle with your hands in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening planting will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

World English Bible
In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening don't withhold your hand; For you don't know which will prosper, whether this or that, Or whether they both will be equally good.

Geneva Bible (1587)
In the morning sowe thy seede, and in the euening let not thine hand rest: for thou knowest not whither shall prosper, this or that, or whether both shalbe a like good.

Legacy Standard Bible
Sow your seed in the morning and do not put your hands down in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

Berean Standard Bible
Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

Contemporary English Version
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.

Complete Jewish Bible
In the morning, sow your seed; and don't slack off until evening; for you don't know which sowing will succeed, this, or that, or if both will do well.

Darby Translation
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.

Easy-to-Read Version
So begin planting early in the morning, and don't stop working until evening. You don't know what might make you rich. Maybe everything you do will be successful.

George Lamsa Translation
In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening withhold not your hands: for you know not which shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both alike shall be good.

Lexham English Bible
Sow your seed in the morning, and do not let your hands rest in the evening, for you do not know what will prosper— whether this or that, or whether both of them alike will succeed.

Literal Translation
Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hand until evening; for you do not know what shall be blessed, this or that; or whether they both shall be good as one.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Cease not thou therfore with thy handes to sowe thy sede, whether it be in ye mornynge or in the euenynge: for thou knowest not whether this or that shall prospere, & yf they both take, it is the better.

American Standard Version
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.

Bible in Basic English
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.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
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.

King James Version (1611)
In the morning sowe thy seede, and in the euening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Ceasse not thou therefore with thy handes to sowe thy seede, whether it be in the morning or in the euening: for thou knowest not whether this or that shall prosper, and if they both take, it is the better.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thine hand be slack: for thou knowest not what sort shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether both shall be good alike.

English Revised Version
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Eerli sowe thi seed, and thin hond ceesse not in the euentid; for thou woost not, what schal come forth more, this ethir that; and if euer eithir cometh forth togidere, it schal be the betere.

Update Bible Version
In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don't withhold your hand; for you don't know which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Webster's Bible Translation
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike good.

New English Translation
Sow your seed in the morning, and do not stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed— whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally.

New King James Version
In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.

New Living Translation
Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don't know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.

New Life Bible
Plant your seeds in the morning, and do not be lazy in the evening. You do not know which will grow well, the morning or evening planting, or if both of them alike will do well.

New Revised Standard
In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
In the morning, sow thy seed, and, until evening, do not withhold thy hand, - for thou knowest not - whether shall thrive, either this or that, or whether, both alike, shall be fruitful.

Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Revised Standard Version
In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

Young's Literal Translation
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 [are] good.

THE MESSAGE
Go to work in the morning and stick to it until evening without watching the clock. You never know from moment to moment how your work will turn out in the end.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

Contextual Overview

¹ Invest your money in foreign trade, and one of these days you will make a profit. ² Put your investments in several places—many places even—because you never know what kind of bad luck you are going to have in this world. ³ No matter which direction a tree falls, it will lie where it fell. When the clouds are full, it rains. ⁴ If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything. ⁵ God made everything, and you can no more understand what he does than you understand how new life begins in the womb of a pregnant woman. ⁶ Do your planting in the morning and in the evening, too. You never know whether it will all grow well or whether one planting will do better than the other.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

sow: Ecclesiastes 9:10, Isaiah 55:10, Hosea 10:12, Mark 4:26-29, John 4:36-38, 2 Corinthians 9:6, 2 Timothy 4:2

thou knowest: Ecclesiastes 9:1, Haggai 1:6-11, Haggai 2:17-19, Zechariah 8:11, Zechariah 8:12, Acts 11:20, Acts 11:21, 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, 2 Corinthians 9:10, 2 Corinthians 9:11

prosper: Heb. be right

Reciprocal: Genesis 26:12 - an hundredfold Genesis 47:23 - here is seed Psalms 112:9 - dispersed Proverbs 3:28 - General Proverbs 11:24 - that scattereth Ecclesiastes 7:18 - good Ecclesiastes 11:1 - for Matthew 5:42 - General Mark 4:3 - there Luke 5:6 - they enclosed Romans 12:8 - giveth Galatians 6:8 - soweth to the 1 Timothy 6:18 - ready

Cross-References

Genesis 3:22
Then the Lord God said, "Now these human beings have become like one of us and have knowledge of what is good and what is bad. They must not be allowed to take fruit from the tree that gives life, eat it, and live forever."

Genesis 6:5
When the Lord saw how wicked everyone on earth was and how evil their thoughts were all the time,

Genesis 8:21
The odor of the sacrifice pleased the Lord , and he said to himself, "Never again will I put the earth under a curse because of what people do; I know that from the time they are young their thoughts are evil. Never again will I destroy all living beings, as I have done this time.

Genesis 9:19
These three sons of Noah were the ancestors of all the people on earth.

Genesis 11:1
At first, the people of the whole world had only one language and used the same words.

Genesis 11:4
They said, "Now let's build a city with a tower that reaches the sky, so that we can make a name for ourselves and not be scattered all over the earth."

Judges 10:14
Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them rescue you when you get in trouble."

1 Kings 18:27
At noon Elijah started making fun of them: "Pray louder! He is a god! Maybe he is day-dreaming or relieving himself, or perhaps he's gone off on a trip! Or maybe he's sleeping, and you've got to wake him up!"

Ecclesiastes 11:9
Young people, enjoy your youth. Be happy while you are still young. Do what you want to do, and follow your heart's desire. But remember that God is going to judge you for whatever you do.

Luke 1:51
He has stretched out his mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

In the morning sow thy seed,.... Do all good works early and diligently, which is expressed by sowing in righteousness, Hosea 10:12; particularly alms deeds, often signified by sowing seed, Psalms 112:9 2 Corinthians 9:6; this should be in the morning of youth, that persons may be inured to it betimes as Obadiah was; and in the morning of prosperity, as soon as ever Providence smiles on men, and puts it into the power of their hands, who should honour the Lord with the firstfruits of their increase;

and in the evening withhold not thine hand; from sowing seed, from doing good, particularly acts of charity, in the evening of old age, as Jarchi, like old Barzillai; an age in which men are apt to be more tenacious and covetous, and withhold more than is meet; yea, in the evening of adversity do not leave off doing good as much as can be; but do as the Macedonian churches, whose deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality in a great trial of affliction, 2 Corinthians 8:2; in short, good is to be done at all times, as opportunity offers, throughout the whole of life, and in all conditions and circumstances;

for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that; the seed sown in the morning or in the evening, which good work shall best succeed; therefore do both, try all ways, make use of all opportunities;

or whether they both [shall be] alike good; acceptable to God, and useful to men; and if so, a man will have no occasion to repent of what he has done both in youth and old age.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

“Unforeseen events come from God; and the man who is always gazing on the uncertain future will neither begin nor complete any useful work: but do thou bear in mind that times and circumstances, the powers of nature and the results to which they minister, are in the hand of God; and be both diligent and trustful.” The images are connected chiefly with the occupation of an agricultural laborer: the discharge of rain from the cloud, and the inclination of the falling tree, and the direction of the wind, are beyond his control, though the result of his work is affected by them. The common application of the image of the fallen tree to the state of departed souls was probably not in the mind of the inspired writer.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Spirit - The same Hebrew word (like πνεῦμα pneuma in Greek and “Spirit” in English) signifies both the wind Ecclesiastes 11:4 and the Spirit (compare marginal reference). The Old Testament in many places recognizes the special operation of God Job 10:8-12; Psalms 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5, and distinctly of the Spirit of God Job 31:15 in the origination of every child. Compare Genesis 2:7.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ecclesiastes 11:6. In the morning sow thy seed — Be ready at all times to show mercy; begin in the morning, continue till the evening. Thou knowest not the most worthy object; it is enough that God knoweth; and if thy motive be good, he will applaud and reward thee; not according to the worthiness or unworthiness of the object of thy charity, but according to the motive which induced thee to relieve him.