American Standard Version ASV
New International Version NIV
23 Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.
23
Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say.
24 Doth he that ploweth to sow plow continually? doth he [continually] open and harrow his ground?
24
When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
25 When he hath levelled the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and put in the wheat in rows, and the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in the border thereof?
25
When he has leveled the surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? Does he not plant wheat in its place,barley in its plot,and spelt in its field?
26 For his God doth instruct him aright, [and] doth teach him.
26
His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.
27 For the fitches are not threshed with a sharp [threshing] instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.
27
Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin; caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cumin with a stick.
28 Bread [grain] is ground; for he will not be always threshing it: and though the wheel of his cart and his horses scatter it, he doth not grind it.
28
Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not go on threshing it forever. The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it, but one does not use horses to grind grain.
29 This also cometh forth from Jehovah of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.
29
All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.