Ecclesiastes 11 · a question people ask
"He who observes the wind won’t sow" (11:4). Is the Preacher saying it's wrong to plan or to be careful?
The verse is a saying about what happens: "He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap" (11:4). The next verses give the reason and the command. The reason: "you don’t know what is the way of the wind" (11:5), and "you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good" (11:6) (tap prosper). The command: "In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand" (11:6). The chapter says nothing for or against planning as such. It sets the sower who can't know how it will turn out beside the one who watches the wind and doesn't sow. In Hebrew observes in 11:4 is shamar, the verb chapter 5 studies with "Guard your steps" (5:1).
The verses
“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.”
“Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil.”