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Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1

9 Young man, be happy while you are still young.

Let your heart be joyful while you are still strong.

Do what your heart tells you to do.

Go after what your eyes look at.

But I want you to know

that God will judge you for everything you do.

10 So drive worry out of your heart.

Get rid of all of your troubles.

Being young and strong doesn’t have any meaning.

12 Remember the One who created you.

Remember him while you are still young.

Think about him before your times of trouble come.

The years will come when you will say,

“I don’t find any pleasure in them.”

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Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — The 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.

10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart

and cast off the troubles of your body,

for youth and vigor are meaningless.

Remember your Creator

in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble come

and the years approach when you will say,

“I find no pleasure in them”—

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — 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.

10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

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. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — 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. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.

Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — The 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.

10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart,

And put away evil from your flesh,

For childhood and youth are vanity.

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,

Before the difficult days come,

And the years draw near when you say,

“I have no pleasure in them”:

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — New Century Version (NCV)

Young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young;

be happy while you are young.

Do whatever your heart desires,

whatever you want to do.

But remember that God will judge you

for everything you do.

10 Don’t worry,

and forget the troubles of your body,

because youth and childhood are useless.

Remember your Creator

while you are young,

before the days of trouble come

and the years when you say,

“I find no pleasure in them.”

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — American Standard Version (ASV)

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 thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

Rejoice, young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Then remove discontent from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.

And remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, of which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

You young people should enjoy yourselves while you’re young. You should let your hearts make you happy when you’re young. Follow wherever your heart leads you and whatever your eyes see. But realize that God will make you give an account for all these things when he judges everyone. 10 Get rid of what troubles you or wears down your body, because childhood and youth are pointless. 

Remember your Creator when you are young, 

before the days of trouble come 

and the years catch up with you. 

They will make you say, 

“I have found no pleasure in them.” 

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Rejoice, young man, while you are young,

and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.

And walk in the ways of your heart

and in the sight of your eyes;

but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment.

10 Remove sorrow from your heart,

and put away pain from your flesh,

because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

So remember your Creator in the days of your youth:

Before the days of adversity come,

and the years approach when you will say,

“I have no delight in them”;

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

10 Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,

and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth!

Follow the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes—

but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.

10 Banish anxiety from your heart,

and put away pain from your body,

for youth and vigor are vanity.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth—

before the days of trouble come

and the years draw near when you will say,

“I find no pleasure in them!”

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

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.

10 So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”;


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