Fathers

Ecclesiastes 11

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth. 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. He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap. 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. 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. Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun. 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. 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. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

Ecclesiastes 11:3

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

He who needs and apprehends much is filled, he who hath been filled waters others, and therefore Scripture saith, If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth.

Letter II, To Constantius ↗

Jerome

"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. "Keep the commandments that have been taught to you above so that the clouds above you will break open in rain. For wherever you have made your home and seat for the future, whether to the east or facing the north, when you die you will remain there. Differently: as I have said above 'send your bread over the water and divide it to all who ask'. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes ↗

Bonaventure

On account of the amplification of merit he says: If the clouds be full, supply: by God, they will pour out rain upon the earth, on account of which rain the earth bears fruit: Hosea 6: "He will come to us like the rain, the early and the latter rain to the earth"; and this for bearing fruit and multiplying the goods of the earth through the merit of almsgiving. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11 ↗