Fathers

Ecclesiastes 11

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Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If 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. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As 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. In 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. Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: But 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. Rejoice, 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. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

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What the Fathers say

Ecclesiastes 11:4

Western Saints

Jerome

"He that observes the wind shall not sow; and he that regards the clouds shall not reap. "He who considers what is good for him and does not give out to all who ask him, often destroys what he ought to receive. [Cfr. Luc 6, 30.] Differently: he who proclaims the word of God at the time when the people listen freely and a second wind of rumour comes, he is a negligent and lazy farmer. But favourably or not in his career he must proclaim the word of God [Cfr II Tim. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes ↗

Gregory the Dialogist

He that observeth the wind doth not sow: and he that regardeth the clouds never reapeth. For what is expressed by the wind but the temptation of malignant spirits? And what are denoted by the clouds which are moved of the wind but the oppositions of bad men? The clouds, that is to say, are driven by the winds, because bad men are excited by the blasts of unclean spirits. …

The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter XV ↗

Bonaventure

He who observes the wind etc. Here he exhorts to giving unceasingly: and first he teaches that times are not to be watched; second, that divine works are not to be scrutinized; third, that works of mercy are to be continued. As to the first, he says: He who observes the wind does not sow, because frequently a wind comes that he does not want, and the wind that would please him does not come. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11 ↗