Ecclesiastes 11:4 — Compare Translations
27 translations compared side by side
English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young
Whoso is observing the wind soweth not, And whoso is looking on the thick clouds reapeth not.
English ASV
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
English Amplified
He who observes the wind [and waits for all conditions to be favorable] will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
English Amplified Classic Bible 1987
He who observes the wind [and waits for all conditions to be favorable] will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025
He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.
English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible
One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.
English Darby 1890 : Public Domain
He that observeth the wind will not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds will not reap.
English EASY 2024
A farmer who waits for the right wind will never plant any seeds. If he is always looking at the clouds, he will never bring in his crops.
English ERV 2006 - Only For Website
But there are some things that you cannot be sure of. You must take a chance. If you wait for perfect weather, you will never plant your seeds. If you are afraid that every cloud will bring rain, you will never harvest your crops.
English ESV 2016 == The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles
He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
English GNT (Good News Translation)
If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything.
English God's Word - GW 1995
Whoever watches the wind will never plant. Whoever looks at the clouds will never harvest.
English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website
One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.
English KJV 1611
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
English LSB
He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)
He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who observes the clouds will not reap.
English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)
He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website
One who pays heed to the wind will not sow, and one who watches the clouds will never reap.
English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)
He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who observes the clouds will not reap.
English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website
Anyone who keeps on watching the wind won't plant seeds. Anyone who keeps looking at the clouds won't gather crops.
English NIV
Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
English NKJ 1982
He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.
English NLT
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.
English NRSV 1989 - Only for website
Whoever observes the wind will not sow; and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.
English RSV (Revised Standard Version)
He who observes the wind will not sow; and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.
English Tyndale 1537
He that regardeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that hath respect unto the clouds, shall not reap.