Ecclesiastes 11:8

New International Reader's Version

No matter how many years anyone might live, let them enjoy all of them. But let them remember the dark days. There will be many of those. Nothing that’s going to happen will have any meaning.

Cross References

Job 10:21

Turn away before I go to the place I can’t return from. It’s the land of gloom and total darkness.

Job 10:22

It’s the land of darkest night and total darkness and disorder. There even the light is like darkness.’ ”

Job 14:10

No man is like that. When he dies, he is buried in a grave. He takes his last breath. Then he is gone.

Job 14:12

In the same way, people lie down and never get up. People won’t wake or rise from their sleep until the heavens are gone.

Job 15:23

Like vultures, they look around for food. They know that the day they will die is near.

Job 18:18

They are driven from light into the place of darkness. They are thrown out of the world.

Psalm 49:20

People who have riches but don’t understand are like the animals. They die.

Ecclesiastes 11:2

Try to succeed by doing many things. After all, you don’t know what great trouble might come on the land.

Ecclesiastes 2:15

Then I said to myself, “What happens to a foolish person will catch up with me too. So what do I gain by being wise?” I said to myself, “That doesn’t have any meaning either.”

Ecclesiastes 2:17

So I hated life. That’s because the work done on this earth made me sad. None of it has any meaning. It’s like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:19

And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Either way, they’ll take over everything on earth I’ve worked so hard for. That doesn’t have any meaning either.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness to the person who pleases him. But to a sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth. Then the sinner must hand it over to the one who pleases God. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

At first, all the people served him when he became king. But those who came later weren’t pleased with the way he was ruling. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

A man lived all by himself. He didn’t have any sons or brothers. His hard work never ended. But he wasn’t happy with what he had. “Who am I working so hard for?” he asked. “Why don’t I get the things I enjoy?” That doesn’t have any meaning either. In fact, it’s a very bad deal!

Ecclesiastes 6:11

The more words people use, the less meaning there is. And that doesn’t help anyone.

Ecclesiastes 6:6

And that’s true even if he lives for 2,000 years but doesn’t get to enjoy his wealth. All people die and go to the grave, don’t they?

Ecclesiastes 7:14

When times are good, be happy. But when times are bad, here’s something to think about. God has made bad times. He has also made good times. So no one can find out anything about what’s ahead for them.

Ecclesiastes 8:12

An evil person may be guilty of a hundred crimes. Yet they may still live a long time. But I know that things will go better with those who have great respect for God.

Ecclesiastes 8:15

So I advise everyone to enjoy life. A person on this earth can’t do anything better than eat and drink and be glad. Then they will enjoy their work. They’ll be happy all the days of the life God has given them on earth.

Ecclesiastes 9:7

Go and enjoy your food. Be joyful as you drink your wine. God has already approved what you do.

Jeremiah 13:16

Give glory to the Lord your God. Honor him before he sends darkness to cover the land. Do this before you trip and fall on the darkened hills. You hope that light will come. But he will turn it into thick darkness. He will change it to deep shadows.

Joel 2:2

That day will be dark and sad. It will be black and cloudy. A huge army of locusts is coming. They will spread across the mountains like the sun when it rises. There has never been an army like it. And there will never be another for all time to come.

Matthew 22:13

“Then the king told his slaves, ‘Tie up his hands and feet. Throw him outside into the darkness. Out there people will weep and grind their teeth.’

John 12:35

Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light. Do this before darkness catches up with you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.

Deuteronomy 32:29

I wish they were wise. Then they would understand what’s coming. They’d realize what would happen to them in the end.

Jude 1:18

They told you, “In the last days, some people will make fun of the truth. They will follow their own ungodly desires.”