Oct.
23
Ecclesiastes
11, 12
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11:1 Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many
days.
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11:2 Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don't know
what evil will be on the earth.
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11:3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the
earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in
the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
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11:4 He who observes the wind won't sow; and he who regards the
clouds won't reap.
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11:5 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.
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11:6 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.
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11:7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the
eyes to see the sun.
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11:8 Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all;
but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many.
All that comes is vanity.
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11:9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you
in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in
the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will
bring you into judgment.
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11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil
from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
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12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before
the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I
have no pleasure in them;"
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12:2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are
darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
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12:3 in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the
strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they
are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,
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12:4 and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of
the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird,
and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
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12:5 yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be in
the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall
be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his
everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:
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12:6 before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is
broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken
at the cistern,
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12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit
returns to God who gave it.
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12:8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity!
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12:9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the
people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many
proverbs.
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12:10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that
which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
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12:11 The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well
fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given
from one shepherd.
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12:12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there
is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
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12:13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God,
and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
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12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden
thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.