Albert Barnes Commentary Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

"Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. 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. 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 thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity." — Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 (ASV)

The preceding exhortation to a life of labor in the sight of God is now addressed especially to the active and the young; and is enforced by another consideration, namely, the transitory character of all that sustains youth.

(Ecclesiastes 11:7) The light ... the sun – Gifts of God that cheer human toil, but which a person almost ceases to appreciate in old age.

(Ecclesiastes 11:8) Days of darkness – The time of old age, and perhaps any time of sorrow or misfortune. .

All that cometh – that is, “the future,” which must not be counted on by the active person, as if their present state of healthy energy were to continue.

(Ecclesiastes 11:9) Rejoice ... cheer ... walk – The imperative mood is used to encourage one who possesses certain gifts from God to remember that they come from God and are to be used in accordance with His will.

In the ways ... – The words are probably used in an innocent sense (Ecclesiastes 2:10; Proverbs 16:9).

Judgment – This includes a judgment beyond the grave, though the writer’s view of it was dim and indefinite if compared with that of a Christian.

(Ecclesiastes 11:10) The sense appears to be: “Let the timely recollection of God’s judgment, and of the fleeting character of youth, so influence your conduct that you will refrain from acts that entail future remorse and pain.”