Ecclesiastes 11 · Verse 10

Ecclesiastes 11:10

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
Ecclesiastes 11:10, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 11:10 in other translations

BSBSo banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.
WEBTherefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
ASVTherefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
YLTAnd turn aside anger from thy heart, And cause evil to pass from thy flesh, For the childhood and the age are vanity!
DARBYThen remove discontent from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.
BBESo put away trouble from your heart, and sorrow from your flesh; because the early years and the best years are to no purpose.
WebsterTherefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

What does Ecclesiastes 11:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. sorrow--that is, the lusts that end in "sorrow," opposed to "rejoice," and "heart cheer thee" (Ec 11:9), Margin, "anger," that is, all "ways of thine heart"; "remove," &c., is thus opposed to "walk in," &c. (Ec 11:9). flesh--the bodily organ by which the sensual thoughts of the "heart" are embodied in acts. childhood--rather, "boyhood"; the same Hebrew word as the first, "youth" in Ec 11:9. A motive for self-restraint; the time is coming when the vigor of youth on which thou reliest, will seem vain, except in so far as it has been given to God (Ec 12:1). youth--literally, the dawn of thy days.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 Therefore remove sorrow - כעס caas, anger; every kind of violent passion, all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. "Childhood and youth are vanity;" they pass away and come to nothing. Eternity alone is permanent; live for eternity.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

Life is sweet to bad men, because they have their portion in this life; it is sweet to good men, because it is the time of preparation for a better; it is sweet to all. Here is a caution to think of death, even when life is most sweet. Solomon makes an effecting address to young persons. They would desire opportunity to pursue every pleasure. Then follow your desires, but be assured that God will call you into…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 →

Ecclesiastes 11:10 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְהָסֵ֥רve.ha.Serand removeH5493
כַּ֙עַס֙ka.'asvexationH3708
מִלִּבֶּ֔ךָmi.li.Be.khafrom heart yourH3820
וְהַעֲבֵ֥רve.ha.'a.Verand put awayH5674
רָעָ֖הra.'AhevilH7451
מִבְּשָׂרֶ֑ךָmi.be.sa.Re.khafrom flesh yourH1320
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
הַיַּלְד֥וּתhai.yal.Dut<the> youthH3208
וְהַֽשַּׁחֲר֖וּתve.ha.sha.cha.Rutand the black hairH7839
הָֽבֶל\׃Ha.vel[are] futilityH1892

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 11:10

  • 2 Corinthians 7:1

    Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

  • 2 Timothy 2:22

    Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:2

    Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:14

    I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Ecclesiastes 12:1

    Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

  • Job 20:11

    His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

  • 2 Peter 3:11-14

    Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

  • Psalms 39:5

    Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

  • Psalms 90:7-11

    For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. …

  • Job 13:26

    For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

  • Psalms 25:7

    Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.

  • Proverbs 22:15

    Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
remove.
12:1; Job 13:26; Ps 25:7; 2Pe 3:11-14
sorrow. or, anger.
Ps 90:7-11
and put.
Job 20:11; 2Co 7:1; 2Ti 2:22
for.
1:2,14; Ps 39:5; Pr 22:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 11:9

    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.

  • Ecclesiastes 11:10

    Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 11

Ecclesiastes 11:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Quita pues el enojo de tu corazón, y aparta el mal de tu carne: porque la mocedad y la juventud son vanidad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Ôte de ton cœur le chagrin, et fais passer le mal loin de ta chair; car le jeune âge et l’aurore sont vanité.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und entferne den Unmut aus deinem Herzen, und tue das Übel von deinem Leibe weg; denn die Jugend und das Mannesalter sind Eitelkeit.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Aufer iram a corde tuo, et amove malitiam a carne tua: adolescentia enim et voluptas vana sunt.