Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
Sorrow - i:e., the lusts that end in "sorrow," opposed to "rejoice," and "heart cheer thee" (Ecclesiastes 11:9); i:e., "Remove" all "the ways of thine heart:" "remove," etc., is thus opposed to "walk in," etc. (Ecclesiastes 11:9). The Hebrew for "sorrow" or 'anger' х ka`ac (H3708)] expresses any mental excitement, whether from anger (a tendency of the young especially), jealousy, ambition, etc. Remove these, and all the self-indulgences that cause them, and retain the serene tranquillity of a godly mind.
Flesh - the bodily organ by which the sensual thoughts of the "heart" are embodied in acts. 'The sight of the eyes' (Ecclesiastes 11:9) ministers to the lust of the "flesh."
Childhood - rather, boyhood; the same Hebrew word as the first "youth" in Ecclesiastes 11:9.
Are vanity. A motive for self-restraint; the time is coming when the vigour of youth, on which thou reliest, will seem vain, except in so far as it has been given to God (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
Youth - Hebrew, Shakaruth; literally, the dawn of thy days.