He that is watching the wind will not sow seed; and he that is looking at the clouds will not reap (Ecclesiastes 11:4)

3 min readAug 6, 2024

Ecclesiastes chapter 11: it is the general theme of this chapter which illustrates the fact that perseverance is often rewarded, it is enough to endure and to be patient:

Send out your bread upon the surface of the waters, for in the course of many days you will find it again. 2Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what calamity will occur on the earth.
3If the clouds are filled [with water], they empty out a sheer downpour upon the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or if to the north, in the place where the tree falls there it will prove to be.
4He that is watching the wind will not sow seed; and he that is looking at the clouds will not reap.
5Just as you are not aware of what is the way of the spirit in the bones in the belly of her that is pregnant, in like manner you do not know the work of the [true] God, who does all things.
6In the morning sow your seed and until the evening do not let your hand rest; for you are not knowing where this will have success, either here or there, or whether both of them will alike be good.
7The light is also sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun; 8for if a man should live even many years, in all of them let him rejoice. And let him remember the days of darkness, though they could be many; every [day] that has come in is vanity.
9Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart do you good in the days of your young manhood, and walk in the ways of your heart and in the things seen by your eyes. But know that on account of all these the [true] God will bring you into judgment. 10So remove vexation from your heart, and ward off calamity from your flesh; for youth and the prime of life are vanity.

“He that is watching the wind will not sow seed; and he that is looking at the clouds will not reap” (Ecclesiastes 11:4). Someone who is constantly in examining a situation before taking action, seems to show a sick fear of failure. It is important to know how to take risks when undertaking a project, without constantly waiting for all the conditions to be met, to ultimately take action. If someone is in the disposition of mind, of the zero risk, ultimately, will not do much in life, “he that is looking at the clouds will not reap”.

THE SPIRITUAL MAN (Existential meditation on the biblical book of Ecclesiastes):

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The Promise of God. The complete explanation of Genesis 3:15.

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