Ecclesiastes 11:9

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Enjoy Life to the Fullest under the Fear of God Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 12:14 : 14 For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.
  • Eccl 3:17 : 17 I thought to myself,“God will judge both the righteous and the wicked; for there is an appropriate time for every activity, and there is a time of judgment for every deed.
  • Job 31:7 : 7 If my footsteps have strayed from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, or if anything has defiled my hands,
  • Eccl 2:10 : 10 I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.
  • Rom 14:10 : 10 But you who eat vegetables only– why do you judge your brother or sister? And you who eat everything– why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
  • 1 Cor 4:5 : 5 So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.
  • 2 Cor 5:10 : 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.
  • Eph 2:2-3 : 2 in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the domain of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…
  • Heb 9:27 : 27 And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,
  • 1 Pet 4:3-4 : 3 For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries. 4 So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.
  • 2 Pet 3:7 : 7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
  • 1 John 2:15-16 : 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 16 because all that is in the world(the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.
  • Rev 20:12-15 : 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened– the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death– the lake of fire. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.
  • Ps 50:4-6 : 4 He summons the heavens above, as well as the earth, so that he might judge his people. 5 He says:“Assemble my covenant people before me, those who ratified a covenant with me by sacrifice!” 6 The heavens declare his fairness, for God is judge.(Selah)
  • Ps 81:12 : 12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires; they did what seemed right to them.
  • Eccl 12:1 : 1 Fear God Now Because Old Age and Death Come Quickly So remember your Creator in the days of your youth– before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say,“I have no pleasure in them”;
  • Jer 7:24 : 24 But they did not listen to me or pay any attention to me. They followed the stubborn inclinations of their own wicked hearts. They acted worse and worse instead of better.
  • Jer 23:17 : 17 They continually say to those who reject what the LORD has said,‘Things will go well for you!’ They say to all those who follow the stubborn inclinations of their own hearts,‘Nothing bad will happen to you!’
  • Jer 44:16-17 : 16 “We will not listen to what you claim the LORD has spoken to us! 17 Instead we will do everything we vowed we would do. We will sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the goddess called the Queen of Heaven just as we and our ancestors, our kings, and our leaders previously did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and had no troubles.
  • Lam 3:27 : 27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
  • Matt 5:28 : 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
  • Luke 15:12-13 : 12 The younger of them said to his father,‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.’ So he divided his assets between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle.
  • Acts 14:16 : 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways,
  • Acts 17:30-31 : 30 Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
  • Acts 24:25 : 25 While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said,“Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.”
  • Rom 2:5-9 : 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed! 6 He will reward each one according to his works: 7 eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, 8 but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness. 9 There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
  • Gen 3:6 : 6 When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
  • Gen 6:2 : 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humankind were beautiful. Thus they took wives for themselves from any they chose.
  • Num 15:30 : 30 Deliberate Sin“‘But the person who acts defiantly, whether native-born or a resident foreigner, insults the LORD. That person must be cut off from among his people.
  • Num 15:39 : 39 You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and obey them and so that you do not follow after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness.
  • Num 22:32 : 32 The angel of the LORD said to him,“Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you because what you are doing is perverse before me.
  • Deut 29:19 : 19 When such a person hears the words of this oath he secretly blesses himself and says,“I will have peace though I continue to walk with a stubborn spirit.” This will destroy the watered ground with the parched.
  • Josh 7:21 : 21 I saw among the goods we seized a nice robe from Babylon, two hundred silver pieces, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. I wanted them, so I took them. They are hidden in the ground right in the middle of my tent with the silver underneath.”
  • 2 Sam 11:2-4 : 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. Now this woman was very attractive. 3 So David sent someone to inquire about the woman. The messenger said,“Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 David sent some messengers to get her. She came to him and he went to bed with her.(Now at that time she was in the process of purifying herself from her menstrual uncleanness.) Then she returned to her home.
  • 1 Kgs 18:12 : 12 But when I leave you, the LORD’s Spirit will carry you away so I can’t find you. If I go tell Ahab I’ve seen you, he won’t be able to find you and he will kill me. That would not be fair, because your servant has been a loyal follower of the LORD from my youth.
  • 1 Kgs 18:27 : 27 At noon Elijah mocked them,“Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.”
  • 1 Kgs 22:15 : 15 When he came before the king, the king asked him,“Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” He answered him,“Attack! You will succeed; the LORD will hand it over to the king.”

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 11:10
    87%

    10Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

  • Eccl 11:7-8
    2 verses
    83%

    7Life Should Be Enjoyed Because Death is Inevitable Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun.

    8So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many– all that is about to come is obscure.

  • Eccl 12:1-2
    2 verses
    81%

    1Fear God Now Because Old Age and Death Come Quickly So remember your Creator in the days of your youth– before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say,“I have no pleasure in them”;

    2before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear after the rain;

  • Eccl 9:7-10
    4 verses
    78%

    7Life is Brief, so Cherish its Joys Go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works.

    8Let your clothes always be white, and do not spare precious ointment on your head.

    9Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life that God has given you on earth during all your fleeting days; for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work on earth.

    10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.

  • Eccl 2:1
    76%

    1Futility of Self-Indulgent Pleasure I thought to myself,“Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile.” But I found that it also is futile.

  • Eccl 8:15-16
    2 verses
    76%

    15Enjoy Life In Spite of Its Injustices So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life. So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.

    16Limitations of Human Wisdom When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth– even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night–

  • Eccl 3:11-12
    2 verses
    75%

    11God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

    12Enjoy Life in the Present I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

  • Eccl 3:22
    75%

    22So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

  • Eccl 5:20
    75%

    20For he does not think much about the fleeting days of his life because God keeps him preoccupied with the joy he derives from his activity.

  • Eccl 2:10
    74%

    10I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.

  • Eccl 7:14-15
    2 verses
    74%

    14In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

    15Exceptions to the Law of Retribution During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

  • Eccl 6:9
    74%

    9It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile– like chasing the wind.

  • Prov 5:18
    74%

    18May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife you married in your youth–

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    73%

    11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

    12For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

  • Eccl 5:18
    73%

    18Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

  • Eccl 2:3
    73%

    3I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine(all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

  • Prov 5:21
    73%

    21For the ways of a person are in front of the LORD’s eyes, and the LORD weighs all that person’s paths.

  • Eccl 9:3
    73%

    3This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives– then they die.

  • Prov 23:19
    73%

    19Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way.

  • Eccl 7:10
    72%

    10Do not say,“Why were the old days better than these days?” for it is not wise to ask that.

  • Eccl 9:1
    72%

    1Everyone Will Die So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead.

  • Eccl 2:26
    72%

    26For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth– only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile– like chasing the wind!

  • Job 5:27
    72%

    27Look, we have investigated this, so it is true. Hear it, and apply it for your own good.”

  • Prov 7:7
    72%

    7and I saw among the naive– I discerned among the youths– a young man who lacked sense.

  • Eccl 7:17
    72%

    17Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time.

  • Eccl 2:24
    72%

    24Enjoy Work and its Benefits There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

  • Prov 9:11
    72%

    11For because of me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

  • Eccl 7:4
    72%

    4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.

  • Eccl 8:11
    72%

    11When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime, the human heart is encouraged to do evil.

  • Eccl 7:2
    71%

    2It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.

  • Eccl 8:5
    71%

    5Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm, and a wise person knows the proper time and procedure.

  • Lam 3:27
    71%

    27It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.

  • Job 11:17
    71%

    17And life will be brighter than the noonday; though there be darkness, it will be like the morning.

  • Eccl 12:14
    71%

    14For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

  • Eccl 1:13
    71%

    13I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.

  • Ezek 16:43
    71%

    43“‘Because you did not remember the days of your youth and have enraged me with all these deeds, I hereby repay you for what you have done, declares the Sovereign LORD. Have you not engaged in prostitution on top of all your other abominable practices?

  • Eccl 2:14
    71%

    14The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.

  • Prov 2:9
    71%

    9Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity– every good way.

  • Prov 27:11
    71%

    11Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.

  • Job 15:12
    71%

    12Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,

  • Eccl 2:19
    71%

    19Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!