NETBible | Divide your merchandise 1 among seven or even eight 2 investments, 3 for you do not know 4 what calamity 5 may happen on earth. |
NIV © |
Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. |
NASB © |
Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. |
NLT © |
Divide your gifts among many, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. |
MSG © |
Don't hoard your goods; spread them around. Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night. |
BBE © |
Give a part to seven or even to eight, because you have no knowledge of the evil which will be on the earth. |
NRSV © |
Divide your means seven ways, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth. |
NKJV © |
Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth. |
KJV | Give <05414> (8798) a portion <02506> to seven <07651>_, and also to eight <08083>_; for thou knowest <03045> (8799) not what evil <07451> shall be upon the earth <0776>_. |
NASB © |
Divide <5414> your portion <2506> to seven <7651> , or even <1571> to eight <8083> , for you do not know <3045> what <4100> misfortune <7463> may occur <1961> on the earth .<776> |
LXXM | dov <1325> V-AAD-2S merida <3310> N-ASF toiv <3588> T-DPM epta <2033> N-NUI kai <2532> CONJ ge <1065> PRT toiv <3588> T-DPM oktw <3638> N-NUI oti <3754> CONJ ou <3364> ADV ginwskeiv <1097> V-PAI-2S ti <5100> I-ASN estai <1510> V-FMI-3S ponhron <4190> A-NSN epi <1909> PREP thn <3588> T-ASF ghn <1065> N-ASF |
NET [draft] ITL | Divide <05414> your merchandise <02506> among seven <07651> or even <01571> eight <08083> investments, for <03588> you do not <03808> know <03045> what <04100> calamity <07451> may happen <01961> on <05921> earth .<0776> |
HEBREW | Urah <0776> le <05921> her <07451> hyhy <01961> hm <04100> edt <03045> al <03808> yk <03588> hnwmsl <08083> Mgw <01571> hebsl <07651> qlx <02506> Nt (11:2) <05414> |
NETBible | Divide your merchandise 1 among seven or even eight 2 investments, 3 for you do not know 4 what calamity 5 may happen on earth. |
NET Notes |
1 tn Heb “give a portion.” 2 tn The phrase “seven or eight” is a graded numerical saying depicting an indefinite plurality: “The collocation of a numeral with the next above it is a rhetorical device employed in numerical sayings to express a number, which need not, or cannot, be more exactly specified. It must be gathered from the context whether such formulae are intended to denote only an insignificant number (e.g., Is 17:6 “two” or at the most “three”) or a considerable number (e.g., Mi 5:4). Sometimes, however, this juxtaposition serves to express merely an indefinite total, without the collateral idea of intensifying the lower by means of the higher number” (GKC 437 §134.s). Examples: “one” or “two” (Deut 32:30; Jer 3:14; Job 33:14; 40:5; Ps 62:12); “two” or “three” (2 Kgs 9:32; Isa 17:6; Hos 6:2; Amos 4:8; Sir 23:16; 26:28; 50:25); “three” or “four” (Jer 36:23; Amos 1:3-11; Prov 21:19; 30:15, 18; Sir 26:5); “four” or “five” (Isa 17:6); “six” or “seven” (Job 5:19; Prov 6:16); “seven” or “eight” (Mic 5:4; Eccl 11:2). 3 tn The word “investments” is not in the Hebrew text; it is added here for clarity. This line is traditionally understood as an exhortation to be generous to a multitude of people (KJV, NAB, ASV, NASB, RSV, NRSV, NIV, NJPS); however, it is better taken as shrewd advice to not commit all one’s possessions to a single venture (A. Cohen, The Five Megilloth [SoBB], 181). D. R. Glenn (“Ecclesiastes,” BKCOT, 1003) writes: “In view of the possibility of disaster, a person should make prudent investments in numerous ventures rather than put all his ‘eggs in one basket’ (e.g., Gen 32:7-8 for a practical example of this advice).” Several translations reflect this: “Divide your merchandise among seven ventures, eight maybe” (NEB); “Take shares in several ventures” (Moffatt). 4 sn The phrase you do not know is repeated throughout this section (11:2, 5-6). Human beings are ignorant of the future. This should motivate a person to invest their financial resources wisely (11:1-3) and to work diligently (11:4-6). 5 tn The term רעה (lit. “evil”) refers to calamity (e.g., Eccl 5:13; 7:14; 9:12). |