Ecclesiastes 11:8 So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.

Bible > Ecclesiastes > Chapter 11 > Verse 8

◄ Ecclesiastes 11:8 ►

New International Version
However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.

New Living Translation
When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.

English Standard Version
So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

Berean Standard Bible
So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all, Yet let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many. All that is coming is vanity.

New American Standard Bible
Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

NASB 1995
Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

NASB 1977
Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

Legacy Standard Bible
Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him be glad in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be vanity.

Amplified Bible
Yes, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that is to come will be futility.

Christian Standard Bible
Indeed, if someone lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many. All that comes is futile.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Indeed, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many. All that comes is futile.

American Standard Version
Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Contemporary English Version
Even if you have a very long life, you should try to enjoy each day, because darkness will come and will last a long time. Nothing makes sense.

English Revised Version
Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even though people may live for many years, they should enjoy every one of them. But they should also remember there will be many dark days. Everything that is coming is pointless.

Good News Translation
Be grateful for every year you live. No matter how long you live, remember that you will be dead much longer. There is nothing at all to look forward to.

International Standard Version
Even if a person lives many years, let him enjoy them all, recalling that there will be many days of darkness to come—all of which are pointless.

Majority Standard Bible
So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.

NET Bible
So, 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.

New Heart English Bible
Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.

Webster's Bible Translation
But if a man shall 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.

World English Bible
Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
But if man lives many years, "" In all of them let him rejoice, "" And remember the days of darkness, "" For they are many! All that is coming [is] vanity.

Young's Literal Translation
But, if man liveth many years, In all of them let him rejoice, And remember the days of darkness, For they are many! all that is coming is vanity.

Smith's Literal Translation
If man shall live many years, in them all shall he rejoice; and he shall remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All coming is vanity.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If a man lives for many years, and if he has rejoiced in all of these, he must remember the many days of the dark times, which, when they will have arrived, will accuse the past of vanity.

New American Bible
However many years mortals may live, let them, as they enjoy them all, remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that is to come is vanity.

New Revised Standard Version
Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
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 comes is vanity.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because if a son of man will live many years, may he rejoice in all these and be reminded of the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is futility

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
For if a man live many years, Let him rejoice in them all, And remember the days of darkness, For they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For even if a man should live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Enjoy Your Years
7Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. 8So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile. 9Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

James 4:14
You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. / So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Psalm 39:4-5
“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is. / You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Job 14:1-2
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. / Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

1 Peter 1:24
For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

Psalm 144:4
Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

Luke 12:19-20
Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ / But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

Isaiah 40:6-8
A voice says, “Cry out!” And I asked, “What should I cry out?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. / The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. / The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

1 John 2:17
The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Psalm 103:15-16
As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; / when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.

Proverbs 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

2 Peter 3:8
Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.

Treasury of Scripture

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 comes is vanity.

if a man

Ecclesiastes 6:6
Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

Ecclesiastes 8:12
Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

rejoice

Ecclesiastes 3:12,13
I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life…

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion…

Ecclesiastes 8:15
Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

all that

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11,15,17,19,21-23,26
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity…

Ecclesiastes 4:8,16
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail…

Ecclesiastes 5:15,16
As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand…

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Ecclesiastes 11

1. directions for charity
7. death in life and the day of judgment
9. in the days of youth

Berean Study Bible

So if a man lives many years
This phrase begins with a conditional statement, suggesting the possibility of longevity. The Hebrew root for "man" here is "אָדָם" (adam), which can refer to mankind in general, emphasizing the universality of the message. The phrase acknowledges the blessing of a long life, which in biblical times was often seen as a sign of God's favor. Historically, longevity was associated with wisdom and experience, and the Bible frequently portrays it as a gift to be cherished.

let him rejoice in them all
The call to "rejoice" is a recurring theme in Ecclesiastes, urging individuals to find joy in the life God has given them. The Hebrew word for "rejoice" is "שָׂמַח" (samach), which conveys a deep, heartfelt joy. This joy is not superficial but rooted in gratitude and contentment. The phrase suggests that each year of life, regardless of circumstances, holds potential for joy and should be embraced fully.

but let him remember the days of darkness
Here, the text introduces a contrast with the previous call to rejoice. The "days of darkness" symbolize times of trouble, suffering, or death. The Hebrew word for "darkness" is "חֹשֶׁךְ" (choshech), often used metaphorically in Scripture to represent adversity or ignorance. This phrase serves as a sobering reminder that life is not without its challenges, and wisdom involves acknowledging and preparing for these inevitable periods.

for they will be many
This part of the verse emphasizes the certainty and frequency of difficult times. The acknowledgment that "they will be many" reflects a realistic view of life, consistent with the broader themes of Ecclesiastes, which often grapple with the complexities and unpredictability of human existence. It encourages a balanced perspective, recognizing both the joys and sorrows of life.

Everything to come is futility
The term "futility" is translated from the Hebrew word "הֶבֶל" (hebel), which appears frequently in Ecclesiastes. It conveys the idea of vapor or breath, symbolizing transience and the elusive nature of worldly pursuits. This phrase encapsulates the book's central theme: the fleeting nature of life and the ultimate vanity of earthly endeavors without a focus on God. It challenges readers to seek meaning beyond the temporal, directing their hearts toward eternal truths.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Days of darkness.--Psalm 88:12; Psalm 143:3; Job 10:21. (Comp. also Psalm 56:13; Job 33:30.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all. The conjunction ki at the commencement of the verse is causal rather than adversative, and should be rendered "for." The insertion of "and" before "rejoice" mars the sentence. The apodosis begins with "rejoice," and the translation is, For if a man live many years, he ought to rejoice in them all. Koheleth has said (ver. 7) that life is sweet and precious; now he adds that it is therefore man's duty to enjoy it; God has ordained that he should do so, whether his days on earth be many or few. Yet let him remember the days of darkness. The apodosis is continued, and the clause should run, And remember, etc. "The days of darkness ' do not mean times of calamity as contrasted with the light of prosperity, as though the writer were bidding one to be mindful of the prospect of disastrous change in the midst of happiness; nor, again, the period of old age distinguished from the glowing light of youth (Virgil, 'AEneid,' L 590, 591). The days of darkness signify the life in Hades, far from the light of the sun, gloomy, uncheered. The thought of this state should not make us hopeless and reckless, like the sensualists whose creed is to "eat and drink, for to-morrow we die" (1 Corinthians 15:82; Wisd. 2:1, etc.), but rouse us to make the best of life, to be contented and cheerful, doing our daily duties with the consciousness that this is our day of labor and joy, and that "the night cometh when no man can work ' (John 9:4). Wisely says Beu-Sira, "Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss" (Ecclus. 7:36). We are reminded of the Egyptian custom, mentioned by Herodotus (2. 78), of carrying a figure of a corpse among the guests at a banquet, not in order to damp pleasure, but to give zest to the enjoyment of the present and to keep it under proper control. "Look on this!" it was cried; "drink, and enjoy thyself; for when thou diest thou shalt he such." The Roman poet has many a passage like this, though, of course, of lower tendency. Thus Horace, 'Carm.,' 2:3 -

"Preserve, O my Dellius, whatever thy fortunes,
A mind undisturbed, 'midst life's changes and ills;
Not cast down by its sorrows, nor too much elated
If sudden good fortune thy cup overfills," etc.

(Stanley.) (See also 'Carm.,' 1:4.) For they shall be many; rather, that they shall be many. This is one of the things to remember. The time in Sheol will be long. How to be passed - when, if ever, to end - he says not; he looks forward to a dreary protracted period, when joy shall be unattainable, and therefore he bids men to use the present, which is all they can claim. All that cometh is vanity. All that comes after this life is ended, the great future, is nothingness; shadow, not substance; a state from which is absent all that made life, and over which we have no control. Koheleth had passed the sentence of vanity on all the pursuits of the living man; now he gives the same verdict upon the unknown condition of the departed soul (comp, Ecclesiastes 9:5). Till the gospel had brought life and immortality to light, the view of the future was dark and gloomy. So we read in Job (Job 10:21, 22), "I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death; a land of thick darkness, as darkness itself; a land of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness." The Vulgate gives quite a different turn to the clause, rendering, Meminisse debet tenebrosi temporis, et dierum multorum; qui cum venerint, vanitatis arguentur praeterita, "He ought to remember... the many days; and when these have come, things passed shall be charged with vanity" - which implies, in accordance with an haggadic interpretation of the passage, that the sinner shall suffer for his transgressions, and shall then learn to acknowledge his folly in the past. It is unnecessary to say that the present text is at variance with this rendering.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

So
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

a man
הָאָדָ֖ם (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

lives
יִחְיֶ֥ה (yiḥ·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

many
הַרְבֵּ֛ה (har·bêh)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

years,
שָׁנִ֥ים (šā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8141: A year

let him rejoice
יִשְׂמָ֑ח (yiś·māḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8055: To brighten up, be, blithe, gleesome

in them all;
בְּכֻלָּ֣ם (bə·ḵul·lām)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

but let him remember
וְיִזְכֹּר֙ (wə·yiz·kōr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male

the days
יְמֵ֣י (yə·mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of darkness,
הַחֹ֔שֶׁךְ (ha·ḥō·šeḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2822: The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they will be
יִהְי֖וּ (yih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

many.
הַרְבֵּ֥ה (har·bêh)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

Everything
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

to come
שֶׁבָּ֥א (šeb·bā)
Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

is futile.
הָֽבֶל׃ (hā·ḇel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory

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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 11:8 Yes if a man lives many years (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)