Ecclesiastes 11:8

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

For if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in all of them, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is meaningless.

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Referenced Verses

  • Deut 32:29 : 29 If only they were wise and would understand this, they would comprehend their latter end.
  • Job 10:22 : 22 A land of gloom like deep darkness, a land of shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.
  • Job 14:10 : 10 But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last and where is he?
  • Job 15:23 : 23 He wanders about for food, asking, 'Where is it?' He knows that the day of darkness is ready at hand.
  • Job 18:18 : 18 He is driven from light into darkness and chased out of the world.
  • Eccl 2:1-9 : 1 I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to see what is good.' But behold, this too was meaningless. 2 I said of laughter, 'It is madness,' and of joy, 'What does it accomplish?' 3 I explored with my heart how to cheer my body with wine, while my mind guided me with wisdom, and how to embrace folly until I could see what is good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives. 4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks for myself and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made reservoirs of water to irrigate groves of flourishing trees. 7 I acquired male and female servants and had other servants born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem who had come before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and the delights of men—many concubines. 9 I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom stayed with me. 10 Anything my eyes desired, I did not withhold from them; I did not keep my heart from any pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, for this was my reward for all my efforts. 11 Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, behold, everything was meaningless—a chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.
  • Eccl 2:15 : 15 Then I said in my heart, 'What happens to the fool will also happen to me. So why have I been so very wise?' And I concluded in my heart, 'This too is meaningless.'
  • Eccl 2:17 : 17 So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
  • Eccl 2:19 : 19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.
  • Eccl 2:21-23 : 21 For there is a person who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but then must leave everything to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 22 What does a person gain from all their labor and from the striving of their heart under the sun? 23 All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is filled with grief; even at night their mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.
  • Eccl 2:26 : 26 To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
  • Eccl 3:12-13 : 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live. 13 And also that every person should eat, drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
  • Eccl 4:8 : 8 There was a man all alone. He had no son or brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. 'For whom am I toiling,' he asked, 'and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?' This too is meaningless—a miserable business!
  • Eccl 4:16 : 16 There is no end to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
  • Eccl 5:15-16 : 15 This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain from all his labor for the wind? 16 Throughout his days, he eats in darkness, with great frustration, sickness, and anger.
  • Eccl 5:18-19 : 18 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 19 For they seldom reflect on the days of their life because God keeps them occupied with joy in their hearts.
  • Eccl 6:6 : 6 Even if someone lives a thousand years twice over but does not enjoy their prosperity, do not all go to the same place?
  • Eccl 6:11 : 11 The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?
  • Eccl 7:14 : 14 When times are good, be joyful; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
  • Eccl 8:12 : 12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and lives a long time, I know that it will be well with those who fear God, who honor Him.
  • Eccl 8:15 : 15 So I praised enjoyment, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad. This will accompany them in their toil through the days of life that God has given them under the sun.
  • Eccl 12:1-5 : 1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years arrive when you say, 'I find no pleasure in them.' 2 Before the sun, light, moon, and stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain. 3 On the day when those who watch over the house tremble, the strong men stoop, and the women who grind cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim. 4 The doors to the street are shut, the grinding fades, one rises at the chirp of a bird, and all the daughters of song are silenced. 5 They are also afraid of heights and dangers along the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, for the man is going to his eternal home, and mourners walk around in the streets.
  • Jer 13:16 : 16 Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, and before your feet stumble on the darkening mountains. You hope for light, but He will turn it to gloom and thick darkness.
  • Joel 2:2 : 2 It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. Like the dawn spreading over the mountains, a great and mighty army comes, unlike any seen before, and none will be seen again for generations to follow.
  • Matt 22:13 : 13 Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him out into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
  • John 12:35 : 35 Then Jesus said to them, "The light will be with you only a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness does not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
  • Jude 1:18 : 18 They said to you, 'In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.'

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 11:9-10
    2 verses
    83%

    9Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart be glad in the days of your prime. Follow the ways of your heart and the sights of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

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

  • Eccl 11:7
    80%

    7Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    79%

    11The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?

    12For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

  • Eccl 12:8
    78%

    8'Utter futility,' says the Teacher. 'Everything is futile!'

  • Eccl 8:14-15
    2 verses
    78%

    14There is a futility that takes place on the earth: righteous people receive what the wicked deserve, and wicked people receive what the righteous deserve. I said, 'This too is vanity.'

    15So I praised enjoyment, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad. This will accompany them in their toil through the days of life that God has given them under the sun.

  • Eccl 2:21-24
    4 verses
    78%

    21For there is a person who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but then must leave everything to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

    22What does a person gain from all their labor and from the striving of their heart under the sun?

    23All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is filled with grief; even at night their mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

    24There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.

  • Eccl 5:16-18
    3 verses
    77%

    16Throughout his days, he eats in darkness, with great frustration, sickness, and anger.

    17Behold, what I have seen is good and fitting: to eat and drink and to enjoy the good of all one's labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him, for this is his reward.

    18Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.

  • Eccl 12:1-2
    2 verses
    77%

    1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years arrive when you say, 'I find no pleasure in them.'

    2Before the sun, light, moon, and stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain.

  • Eccl 7:14-15
    2 verses
    77%

    14When times are good, be joyful; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

    15In my fleeting life, I have seen it all: The righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

  • Eccl 4:16
    77%

    16There is no end to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 6:3-6
    4 verses
    77%

    3A man may father a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy life's good things and receives no proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

    4For it comes in vain and departs in darkness, and its name is covered in darkness.

    5Though it has never seen the sun or known anything, it has more rest than that man.

    6Even if someone lives a thousand years twice over but does not enjoy their prosperity, do not all go to the same place?

  • Eccl 9:9
    76%

    9Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your portion in life and in your hard work under the sun.

  • Eccl 2:16-17
    2 verses
    76%

    16For the wise, like the fool, will not be remembered forever; in the days to come, everything will be forgotten. How does the wise person die? Just like the fool!

    17So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 3:12
    76%

    12I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live.

  • Eccl 3:22
    75%

    22So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

  • Ps 144:4
    75%

    4Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

  • Eccl 2:11
    75%

    11Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, behold, everything was meaningless—a chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.

  • Eccl 8:10
    75%

    10Then I saw the wicked buried, who used to go in and out of the holy place, but now they are forgotten in the city where they acted this way. This too is meaningless.

  • Eccl 8:6
    75%

    6For every purpose there is a proper time and procedure, though the misery of mankind weighs heavily upon them.

  • Eccl 2:19
    75%

    19And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.

  • Eccl 1:2-3
    2 verses
    74%

    2“Utterly meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

    3What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

  • Eccl 1:14
    74%

    14I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun; they are all meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 4:3
    74%

    3But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

  • Eccl 7:2
    74%

    2It is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, because death is the destination of everyone, and the living should take it to heart.

  • Eccl 6:9
    74%

    9Better is what the eyes see than the wandering of desire. This too is meaningless and a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 2:1
    73%

    1I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to see what is good.' But behold, this too was meaningless.

  • Ps 39:6
    73%

    6Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Surely, every man is but a breath. Selah.

  • Eccl 2:14
    73%

    14The wise have eyes in their heads, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate overtakes them both.

  • Eccl 9:3
    73%

    3This is the distressing thing about everything that happens under the sun: the same fate befalls all. Moreover, the hearts of humans are full of evil, and madness resides in their hearts during their lives; and after that, they join the dead.

  • Eccl 2:26
    73%

    26To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 4:7-8
    2 verses
    73%

    7Again, I turned and saw meaninglessness under the sun.

    8There was a man all alone. He had no son or brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. 'For whom am I toiling,' he asked, 'and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?' This too is meaningless—a miserable business!

  • Eccl 8:17
    73%

    17then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.

  • Eccl 3:19
    72%

    19For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over animals, for everything is meaningless.