Ecclesiastes 11:10

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart The two clauses recognise the two conditions of happiness so far as happiness is attainable by man on earth. "Sorrow," better perhaps, discontent or vexation, is by a deliberate effort to be put away from our "heart," i.e.from our mind. We are not to look on the dark side of things, but to cultivate cheerfulness, to be "content" (αὐτάρκης) with whatever life brings us (Philippians 4:11). And the "flesh" too has its claims which may legitimately be recognised. We need not vex it with the self-inflicted tortures of the ascetic, but, in a sense as far as possible different from "the rehabilitation of the flesh" which has been made the plea for an unrivalled sensuality, consider and meet its capacities for pure and innocent enjoyment.

childhood and youth are vanity The Hebrew word for "youth" is an unusual one and is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament. It has been differently explained: (1) as the dawn or morning of life, the period of its brightness; and (2) as the time when the hair is black as contrasted with the grey hair of age. Of these (1) seems preferable. The prominent idea of "vanity" here is that of transitoriness. The morning will not last. It is wise to use it while we can.