Bible for Soul
Book 21 of 66 · Poetry & Wisdom

EcclesiastesChapter 11 · light and darkness and humanity and family

10 verses2 sections2 min readWisdomComplete KJV text

Ecclesiastes 11 contains 10 verses in the King James Version. This page presents the complete chapter, a section-by-section outline, and direct links to every verse. Its recurring subjects include light and darkness, humanity and family, and justice and righteousness.

Chapter at a glance

What is in Ecclesiastes 11?

The chapter opens, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” It closes in verse 10, “Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.” The outline below follows the text in order.

Primary themes
light and darknesshumanity and familyjustice and righteousness
Passage
Ecclesiastes 11:1–10
Reading time
About 2 minutes · 273 words
Section-by-section outline

Ecclesiastes 11 outline

Read the full chapter
  1. Verses 1–6

    Heaven and Earth

    Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

  2. Verses 7–10

    Light and Darkness · Humanity and Family

    Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

King James Version · complete chapter

Ecclesiastes 11 KJV

1Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3If 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. 4He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. 5As 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. 6In 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. 7Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: 8But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. 9Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.