Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

⁷ Truly the light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun;

⁸ 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.

⁹ Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you 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 God will bring you into judgment.

¹⁰ Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.

Life (“light,” v.7) is enjoyable, but remember that it is short compared to the time spent in death (“days of darkness”). … While believers know that life is indeed short (James 4:14), we do not despair because we know that our existence after our lives on earth will be far superior (2 Corinthians 4:17; Colossians 1:5). We are not living life “under the sun” with its attendant despair. Instead, we have the best of both worlds—enjoyment of all that life has to offer here and now followed by a glorious eternity in the presence of God (2 Corinthians 5:6; Ephesians 2:6).— Grace, page 1181.

Chapter 12 should probably begin with 11:9.

Rejoice in your youth. … Cheerfully enjoy all of God’s gifts. … Celebrate [your abilities] as the gifts of God but remember He has not given you these gifts to squander foolishly. There will be a day of accounting, so do all with a consciousness that at a future point you are to stand before the sovereign Judge of the universe. A man must put away from himself all that would be displeasing to God, for these things will ultimately blunt his ability to achieve true joy. — KJV Commentary, page 753.

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“Light” (v.7) means life and prosperity. “Darkness” (v.8) means adversity, old age, and death. “All that cometh is vanity” (v.8). This is true when God is suppressed. The child expects boyhood to give a satisfying happiness; the boy expects the same from youth; and the youth from manhood. But disappointment is met at every stage of life’s journey. … The verses that follow continue the argument of the emptiness of youth and maturity (v.10) even when furnished with all means for enjoyment (v.9).; and this emptiness is embittered by the consciousness of future judgment (v.9). The better path of turning away from pleasures which only irritate the mind, and injure the body (v.10), and of remembering God, in and from, boyhood, and before the advent of old age and death is set out in verses 1-7 of chapter 12. — Williams, page 448.

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youth (v.10) — Not the same word for youth used in v.9. Here it means “dark” or “black,” i.e., dark hair (as opposed to gray) and thus a young man. — Grace, page 1181.