Ecclésiaste 11:6

6 Sème ta semence dès le matin, et ne laisse pas reposer ta main le soir; car tu ne sais pas ce qui réussira, ceci ou cela, ou si les deux seront également bons.

Ecclésiaste 11:6 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 11:6

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 9:6-10 ) ; 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.

Ecclésiaste 11:6 In-Context

4 Celui qui observe le vent, ne sèmera point; et celui qui regarde les nuées, ne moissonnera point.
5 Comme tu ne sais pas quel est le chemin du vent, ni comment se forment les os dans le sein de celle qui est enceinte; de même tu ne connais pas l'œuvre de Dieu, qui a fait toutes choses.
6 Sème ta semence dès le matin, et ne laisse pas reposer ta main le soir; car tu ne sais pas ce qui réussira, ceci ou cela, ou si les deux seront également bons.
7 La lumière est douce, et il est agréable aux yeux de voir le soleil.
8 Et si un homme vit un grand nombre d'années, qu'il se réjouisse pendant toutes ces années, et qu'il se souvienne des jours de ténèbres, qui sont nombreux. Tout ce qui vient est vanité.
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.