⁸So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember ^othat the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is ^pvanity.²

⁹^qRejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. ^rWalk in the ways of your heart and ^sthe sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things ^tGod will bring you into judgment.

¹⁰Remove vexation from your heart, and ^uput away pain³ from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

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Footnotes

2The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verse 10 (see note on )
3Or evil

Cross references

nch. 6:5; 7:11
o[ch. 12:1, 2]
pch. 2:23; See ch. 1:2
q[ch. 2:10; 9:7]
r[Num. 15:39; Job 31:7]
sch. 6:9
tSee ch. 12:14
u 2 Cor. 7:1; 2 Tim. 2:22

In other versions

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Light is sweet,

and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

However 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.

So then, banish anxiety from your heart

and cast off the troubles of your body,

for youth and vigor are meaningless.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Light is sweet,

and it is pleasing for the eyes to see the sun.

Indeed, if someone lives many years,

let him rejoice in them all,

and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many.

All that comes is futile.

Rejoice, young person, 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 desire of your eyes;

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

Remove sorrow from your heart,

and put away pain from your flesh,

because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

NLTNew Living Translation

Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.

When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.

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. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

The light is sweet,

and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

For if a man lives many years,

let him rejoice in all of them!

Let him remember that the days of the darkness will be many—

all that is coming is vanity!

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.

Banish anxiety from your heart,

and put away pain from your body,

for youth and vigor are vanity.

KJV 1900King James Version

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: 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.

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

Public Domain