Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

[9] Rejoice,  O young man,  in thy youth;  and let thy heart  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.  [10] Therefore remove  sorrow  from thy heart,  and put away  evil  from thy flesh:  for childhood  and youth  are vanity. 

What does Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The second reason to enjoy life is that youth is fleeting. [1] Solomon balanced his counsel to the youth to follow his or her impulses and wholesome desires, with a reminder that God will judge us all eventually. Solomon probably thought of God"s judgments before death (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26; Ecclesiastes 7:17).
"To older people it may seem to be too risky to advise a young person to walk in the ways of his heart and the sight of his eyes. Yet the advice is coupled with a reminder of responsibility before God. This is not to take away with one hand what is given with the other because a sense of responsibility belongs to youth just as vitality does." [1]7
In all his writings, Solomon never advocated sinful self-indulgence, only the enjoyment of life"s legitimate pleasures and good gifts.