Ecclesiastes 11:9

Ecclesiastes 11:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
• New International Version (NIV)You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.

Context of Ecclesiastes 11:9

7The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. 8Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility. Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

Ecclesiastes 11:9 word by word

שְׂמַ֧ח בָּח֣וּר בְּיַלְדוּתֶ֗יךָ וִֽיטִֽיבְךָ֤ לִבְּךָ֙ בִּימֵ֣י בְחוּרוֹתֶ֔ךָ וְהַלֵּךְ֙ בְּדַרְכֵ֣י לִבְּךָ֔ וּבְמַרְאֵ֖י עֵינֶ֑יךָ וְדָ֕ע כִּ֧י עַל־כָּל־אֵ֛לֶּה יְבִֽיאֲךָ֥ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear

• Rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
• youngבָּחוּרbâchûr bâchûr · youthH970
• during your childhoodיַלְדוּתyaldûth · youthH3208
• and let your heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• be pleasantיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
• during the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of youngבְּחוּרִיםbechûrôth bechûrôth bechûrîym · youthH979
• And followהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
• impulsesדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• desiresמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
• of your eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• Yet knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• will bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
• you to judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
• for allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• theseאֵ֫לֶּה'êlleh · theseH428

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 11:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth - Youth is devoid of cares; and, consequently, of many perplexities and distresses. Were it not so, we should have no old men; nay, perhaps not one even of middle ape. It is in the order of a most gracious God, that the young should rejoice in their youth; but they should make such a moderate use of all their enjoyments, that they may not be confounded in the day of judgment. But, O young man, if thou wilt follow the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The preceding exhortation to a life of labor in the sight of God is now addressed especially to the active and the young; and is enforced by another consideration, namely, the transitory character of all that sustains youth. Ecclesiastes 11:7 The light … the sun - Gifts of God which cheer man‘s toil, but which he almost ceases to appreciate in his old age. Ecclesiastes 11:8 Days of darkness - The time of old age, and perhaps any time of sorrow…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 Life is sweet to bad men, because they have their portion in this life; it is sweet to good men, because it is the time of preparation for a better; it is sweet to all. Here is a caution to think of death, even when life is most sweet. Solomon makes an effecting address to young persons. They would desire opportunity to pursue every pleasure. Then follow your desires, but be assured that God will call you into judgment. How many give loose to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Young people should enjoy their youth fully. They should also remember they will answer to God, so they should avoid foolish behavior.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Rejoice--not advice, but warning. So 1Ki 22:15, is irony; if thou dost rejoice (carnally, Ec 2:2; 7:2, not moderately, as in Ec 5:18), &c., then "know that ... God will bring thee into judgment" (Ec 3:17; 12:14). youth ... youth--distinct Hebrew words, adolescence or boyhood (before Ec 11:10), and full-grown youth. It marks the gradual progress in self-indulgence, to which the young especially are prone; they see the roses, but do not discover the…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 11:9

• Amusements and Worldly Pleasures
• Children
• God Continued...
• Joy
• Judgment
• Sensuality
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Childhood
• Empty
• Judgment, The final
• Regard
• Remove
• Cheer; Cheerfulness
• Eschatology of the Old Testament
• Young; Men, Young Women

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings