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Ecclesiastes 11:9

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Enjoy Life to the Fullest under the Fear of God

11:9Rejoice, young man, while you are young,25

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

Follow the impulses26 of your heart and the desires27 of your eyes,

but know that God will judge your motives and actions.28

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Footnotes

  1. 25 Heb “in your youth”; or “in your childhood.”
  2. 26 Heb “walk in the ways of your heart.”
  3. 27 Heb “the sight.”
  4. 28 Heb “and know that concerning all these God will bring you into judgment.” The point is not that following one’s impulses and desires is inherently bad and will bring condemnation from God. Rather the point seems to be: As you follow your impulses and desires, realize that all you think and do will eventually be evaluated by God. So one must seek joy within the boundaries of God’s moral standards.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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.

NLTNew Living Translation

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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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.

KJV 1900King James Version

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.