Ecclesiastes 11:9
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad 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 things God will bring you to judgment.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
"Rejoice, 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, that for all this God will bring thee to judgment." The parallel בּימי shows that the beth in בּילד (with ד aspirated) does not introduce the reason of the joy, but the time suitable for it. Instead of veyithav libbecha, "let thy heart be of good cheer," as the expression might also be, the words are vithivecha libbecha, "make thy heart of good cheer to thee," - so, viz., that from this centre brightness may irradiate thy countenance (Pro 15:13) and thy whole personality, vid., Psychologie, p. 249. Vehhuroth, the period of youth, is here and at Ecc 12:1 = Num 11:28, vehhurim, as the only once occurring ne'uroth, Jer 32:30, is = the elsewhere generally used ne'urim; the form in ôth is the more modern (cf. keluloth, Jer 2:2). "Ways of the heart" are thus ways into which the impulse of the heart leads, and which satisfy the heart. מר עין, at Ecc 6:9, designates the pleasure felt in the presence of the object before one; here, a sight which draws and fastens the eyes upon it. The Chethı̂b has the plur. מראי, which is known to the language (Dan 1:15; Sol 2:14), and which would here designate the multitude of the objects which delight the eyes, which is not unsuitable; the Pih. הלּך denotes also elsewhere, frequently, e.g., Psa 131:1, walking, in an ethical sense; Hitz., Zckl., and others interpret the first ב as specifying the sphere, and the second as specifying the norm ("according to the sight of thine eyes"); but they both introduce that wherein he ought to act freely and joyfully: in the ways of thy heart, into which it draws thee; and in the sight of thine eyes, towards which they direct themselves wit…
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. A pressing exhortation to works of charity and bounty to the poor, as the best cure of the vanity which our worldly riches are subject to and the only way of making them turn to a substantial good account (Ecc 11:1-6). II. A serious admonition to prepare for death and judgment, and to begin betimes, even in the days of our youth, to do so (Ecc 11:7-10).
Open source ↗11:9 Young people are encouraged to enjoy their youth to the fullest. They should also remember that they will give an account to God and should therefore avoid foolish behavior.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”
I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”
It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,
Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,
Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.