Ecclesiastes 11:9 
Context| NET © | Rejoice, young man, while you are young, 1 and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses 2 of your heart and the desires 3 of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions. 4 |
| NIV © | Be happy, young man, 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 to judgment. |
| NASB © | 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. |
| NLT © | Young man, 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. |
| MSG © | You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor. Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But know also that not just anything goes; You have to answer to God for every last bit of it. |
| BBE © | Have joy, O young man, while you are young; and let your heart be glad in the days of your strength, and go in the ways of your heart, and in the desire of your eyes; but be certain that for all these things God will be your judge. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| KJV | |
| NASB © | Rejoice <08055> , young <0970> man <0970> , during your childhood <03208> , and let your heart <03820> be pleasant <03190> during the days <03117> of young <0979> manhood <0979> . And follow <01980> the impulses <01870> of your heart <03820> and the desires <04758> of your eyes <05869> . Yet know <03045> that God <0430> will bring <0935> you to judgment <04941> for all <03605> these <0428> things .<0428> |
| HEBREW | |
| LXXM | |
| NET © [draft] ITL | Rejoice <08055> , young man <0970> , while you are young <03208> , and let your heart <03820> cheer <03190> you in the days <03117> of your youth <0979> . Follow <01980> the impulses <01870> of your heart <03820> and the desires <04758> of your eyes <05869> , but know <03045> that <03588> God <0430> will judge <04941> <0935> |
| NET © | Rejoice, young man, while you are young, 1 and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses 2 of your heart and the desires 3 of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions. 4 |
| NET © Notes |
1 tn Heb “in your youth”; or “in your childhood.” 2 tn Heb “walk in the ways of your heart.” 3 tn Heb “the sight.” 4 tn 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. |
