Ecclesiastes 11:8
If a man live many years, and have rejoiced in them all, he must remember the darksome time, and the many days: which when they shall come, the things past shall be accused of vanity.
Douay-Rheims 1899
In The King James Version
In Context
7The light is sweet, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.
Cross References
Job 10:21Before I go, and return no more, to a land that is dark and covered with the mist of death:
Job 14:10But man when he shall be dead, and stripped and consumed, I pray you where is he?
Job 15:23When he moveth himself to seek bread, he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
Psalms 49:20He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: and he shall never see light.
Ecclesiastes 2:15And I said in my heart: If the death of the fool and mine shall be one, what doth it avail me, that I have applied myself more to the study of wisdom? And speaking with my own mind, I perceived that this also was vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:19Whom I know not whether he will be a wise man or a fool, and he shall have rule over all my labours with which I have laboured and been solicitous: and is there any thing so vain?
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 11:8-10
A Caution to the Young; Exhortation to Early Piety. 7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: 8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. 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… Read the whole commentary →