Directions for charity, 1-6. Death in life, 7, 8, and the day of judgment in the days of youth, are to be thought on, 9, 10.
1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you shall find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what evil shall be upon the earth. 3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth. And if the tree falls toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be. 4 He who observes the wind shall not sow, and he who regards the clouds shall not reap. 5 As you do not know what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, even so you do not know the works of God who makes all.
6 In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand, for you do not know which shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. 8 But if a man lives many years and rejoices in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. 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. 10 Therefore, remove sorrow from your heart and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.
Matthew Henry Commentary - Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11[➚]