New International Version
Ecclesiastes 11:9
9You 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.
Context of Ecclesiastes 11:9
7Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. 8However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless. 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. 10So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 11Ecclesiastes 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
- O young manבָּחוּרbâchûr bâchûr · youthH970
- in thy youthיַלְדוּתyaldûth · youthH3208
- and let thy heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- cheerטוֹבţôb · be pleasingH2895
- thee in the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of thy youthבְּחוּרִיםbechûrôth bechûrôth bechûrîym · youthH979
- and walkהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
- in the waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
- and in the sightמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
- of thine eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- but knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- will bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- thee into judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
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
In the dictionaries
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
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