Ecclesiastes 11:10

Sorrow. Rather, “provoking,” or “provocation” (see Deut. 32:19; 1 Kings 15:30; 21:22; Eze. 20:28), “wrath,” or “anger” (Deut. 32:27; Ps. 85:4; Prov. 12:16; Eccl. 7:9), or “spite” (Ps. 10:14). The verb form of the word is generally translated, “to provoke to anger.”

Evil. That which harms the body, a reference chiefly to moral excesses that result in physical degeneration (see 1 Cor. 6:18, 19; 2 Cor. 7:1).

Childhood. From the same Hebrew word translated as “youth” in the first clause of v. 9.

Youth. Heb. shacharuth, a word used in this form only here. It may be from a root meaning “blackness” (see Cant. 5:11). The meaning of shacharuth is uncertain, but the foregoing suggestion would make it refer to the prime of life, when a man has a head of black hair. Some think that shacharuth may be derived from shachan, “[the reddish light that precedes] dawn.” Accordingly, shacharuth would here mean the “dawn [of life].” Vanity. Both youth and the prime of life quickly pass.