Ecclesiastes 11:9

“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, etc.] This advice may be considered as serious; and either as relating to natural, corporeal, and temporal delight and pleasure, under due limitations; that as mirth and cheerfulness, or a free use of the creatures of God, with moderation and temperance, is allowable to all men in common, and is spoken of throughout this book as commendable, and is healthful and profitable to men; so it is particularly suitable to the youthful age, whose natural desires may be enjoyed, and their outward senses may be gratified, in a lawful way, so far as is consistent with the fear of God, and the expectation of a future judgment: or it may be considered with respect to…”

“Rejoice--not advice, but warning. So Kg1 22:15, is irony; if thou dost rejoice (carnally, Ecc 2:2; Ecc 7:2, not moderately, as in Ecc 5:18), &c., then "know that . . . God will bring thee into judgment" (Ecc 3:17; Ecc 12:14). youth . . . youth--distinct Hebrew words, adolescence or boyhood (before Ecc 11:10), and full-grown youth. It marks the gradual progress in self-indulgence, to which the young especially are prone; they see the roses, but do not discover the thorns, until pierced by them. Religion will cost self-denial, but the want of it infinitely more (Luk 14:28).”

“The preceding exhortation to a life of labor in the sight of God is now addressed especially to the active and the young; and is enforced by another consideration, namely, the transitory character of all that sustains youth. Ecclesiastes 11:7 The light ... the sun - Gifts of God which cheer man’s toil, but which he almost ceases to appreciate in his old age. Ecclesiastes 11:8 Days of darkness - The time of old age, and perhaps any time of sorrow or misfortune. Compare Ecclesiastes 12:2. All that cometh - i. e., “The future,” which must not be reckoned on by the active man, as if his present state of healthy energy were to continue. Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice ... cheer ... walk - The…”

“Rejoice - Indulge thy humour, and take thy fill of delights. And walk - Whatsoever thine eye or heart lusteth after, deny it not to them. But know - But in the midst of thy jollity consider thy reckoning. Ecclesiastes 11:10”

“11:9 Young people are encouraged to enjoy their youth to the fullest. They should also remember that they will give an account to God and should therefore avoid foolish behavior.”

“Rejoice: Kg1 18:27, Kg1 22:15; Luk 15:12, Luk 15:13 in thy youth: Ecc 12:1; Kg1 18:12; Lam 3:27 walk: Num 15:30, Num 22:32; Deu 29:19; Job 31:7; Psa 81:12; Jer 7:24, Jer 23:17; Jer 44:16, Jer 44:17; Act 14:16; Eph 2:2, Eph 2:3; Pe1 4:3, Pe1 4:4 in the sight: Ecc 2:10; Gen 3:6, Gen 6:2; Jos 7:21; Sa2 11:2-4; Mat 5:28; Jo1 2:15, Jo1 2:16 know: Ecc 3:17, Ecc 12:14; Psa 50:4-6; Act 17:30, Act 17:31, Act 24:25; Rom 2:5-11, Rom 14:10; Co1 4:5; Co2 5:10; Pe2 3:7; Heb 9:27; Rev 20:12-15 Ecclesiastes 11:10”

“"Rejoice, 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, that for all this God will bring thee to judgment." The parallel בּימי shows that the beth in בּילד (with ד aspirated) does not introduce the reason of the joy, but the time suitable for it. Instead of veyithav libbecha, "let thy heart be of good cheer," as the expression might also be, the words are vithivecha libbecha, "make thy heart of good cheer to thee," - so, viz., that from this centre brightness may irradiate thy countenance ( Pro 15:13) and thy whole personality, vid., Psychologie, p. 249. Vehhuroth, the period of…”