Ecclesiastes 11:3
Good News Translation
No matter which direction a tree falls, it will lie where it fell. When the clouds are full, it rains.

New Revised Standard Version
When clouds are full, they empty rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.

Contemporary English Version
Rain clouds always bring rain; trees always stay wherever they fall.

New American Bible
When the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, wherever it falls, there shall it lie.

Douay-Rheims Bible
If the clouds be full, they will pour out rain upon the earth. If the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in what place soever it shall fall, there shall it be.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

If the clouds be full, they will pour out rain upon the earth. If the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in what place soever it shall fall, there shall it be.

the clouds

1 Kings 18:45 And while he turned himself this way and that way, behold the heavens grew dark, with clouds and wind, and there fell a great rain. And Achab getting up, went away to Jezrahel:

Psalm 65:9-13 Thou hast visited the earth, and hast plentifully watered it; thou hast many ways enriched it. The river of God is filled with water, thou hast prepared their food: for so is its preparation. . . .

Isaiah 55:10,11 And as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return no more thither, but soak the earth, and water it, and make it to spring, and give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: . . .

1 John 3:17 He that hath the substance of this world and shall see his brother in need and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him?

if the tree

Matthew 3:10 For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.

Luke 13:7 And he said to the dresser of the vineyard: Behold, for these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down therefore. Why cumbereth it the ground?

Luke 16:22-26 And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. . . .

Context
Cast Your Bread upon the Waters
2Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3If the clouds be full, they will pour out rain upon the earth. If the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in what place soever it shall fall, there shall it be.4He that observeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that considereth the clouds, shall never reap.…
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 11:2
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Ecclesiastes 11:4
He that observeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that considereth the clouds, shall never reap.

Ecclesiastes 11:2
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