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Ecclesiastes 11:8

JoyDeath and lossWisdom

6 Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.

9 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.

10 So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.
KJV
But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
WEB
Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
ASV
Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
DARBY
but if a man live many years, [and] rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many: all that cometh is vanity.
BLB
For if the man lives many years, let him be glad in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many—all that is coming [is] vapor.
ÅB
For om et menneske lever mange år, skal han glede seg i dem alle og komme mørkets dager i hu; for de blir mange. Alt som skal komme, er tomhet.
OTB
Hvis en person lever mange år, la dem glede seg i alle dem; men la dem huske mørkets dager, for de vil være mange. Alt som kommer er tomhet.
B1930
For om et menneske lever mange år, skal han glede sig i dem alle og komme mørkets dager i hu; for de blir mange. Alt som skal komme, er tomhet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • John 12:35

    Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 32:29

    If only they were wise, they would understand it; they would comprehend their fate.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 7:14

    In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.

    Read in context

  • Joel 2:2

    a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.

    Read in context

  • Job 14:10

    But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?

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  • Ecclesiastes 12:1–5

    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,”

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 6:11

    For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 8:12

    Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.

    Read in context