Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. New Living Translation Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind. English Standard Version Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Berean Standard Bible Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. King James Bible Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. New King James Version Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. New American Standard Bible What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and striving after wind. NASB 1995 What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind. NASB 1977 What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind. Legacy Standard Bible What the eyes see is better than what the soul goes after. This too is vanity and striving after wind. Amplified Bible What the eyes see [enjoying what is available] is better than [craving] what the soul desires. This too is futility and chasing after the wind. Christian Standard Bible Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Holman Christian Standard Bible Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. American Standard Version Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Contemporary English Version It's better to enjoy what we have than to always want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind. English Revised Version Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. GOD'S WORD® Translation It is better to look at what is in front of you than to go looking for what you want. Even this is pointless. [It's like] trying to catch the wind. Good News Translation It is useless; it is like chasing the wind. It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else. International Standard Version It is better to focus on what you can see than to meander after your self-interest; this also is pointless and a chasing after wind. Majority Standard Bible Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. NET Bible It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile--like chasing the wind. New Heart English Bible Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. Webster's Bible Translation Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. World English Bible Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBetter [is] the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This [is] also vanity and distress of spirit. Young's Literal Translation Better is the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Smith's Literal Translation Good the sight of the eyes above the going of the soul. Also this is vanity and striving of spirit. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBetter it is to see what thou mayst desire, than to desire that which thou canst not know. But this also is vanity, and presumption of spirit. Catholic Public Domain Version It is better to see what you desire, than to desire what you cannot know. But this, too, is emptiness and a presumption of spirit. New American Bible “What the eyes see is better than what the desires wander after.” This also is vanity and a chase after wind. New Revised Standard Version Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing after wind. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBetter is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire; this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Better the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul, and this also is futility and agitation of the soul OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire; this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Brenton Septuagint Translation The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Futility of Life…8What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others? 9Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. 10Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.… Cross References Proverbs 27:20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. Proverbs 15:16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. Proverbs 16:8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice. Proverbs 17:24 Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth. Proverbs 21:17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich. Proverbs 23:5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky. Proverbs 30:15-16 The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’: / Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’ 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. / For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. / But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. Philippians 4:11-12 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. / I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need. Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? / Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? / Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ... Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” James 4:14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 1 John 2:16-17 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever. Treasury of Scripture Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. better Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. Ecclesiastes 3:12,13 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life… Ecclesiastes 5:18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. wandering of the desire Job 31:7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; Proverbs 30:15,16 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: … Jeremiah 2:20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot. this Ecclesiastes 6:2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. Ecclesiastes 1:2,14 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity… Ecclesiastes 2:11,22,23 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun… Jump to Previous Appetite Better Chasing Desire Desires Eye Eyes Futility Meaningless Pursuit Roving Sight Soul Spirit Striving Vanity Vexation Wandering WindJump to Next Appetite Better Chasing Desire Desires Eye Eyes Futility Meaningless Pursuit Roving Sight Soul Spirit Striving Vanity Vexation Wandering WindEcclesiastes 6 1. the vanity of riches without use3. though a man have many children and a long life 7. the vanity of sight and wandering desires 10. The conclusion of vanities Better what the eye can see This phrase emphasizes the value of tangible, present realities over elusive desires. The Hebrew word for "better" (טוֹב, tov) often conveys goodness or moral superiority. In the context of Ecclesiastes, it suggests a practical wisdom that values contentment with what is immediately available. Historically, this reflects a common theme in wisdom literature, where the focus is on living a life grounded in reality rather than chasing after unattainable dreams. The "eye" symbolizes perception and understanding, suggesting that what is visible and present is more reliable than abstract desires. than the wandering of desire This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind "Seal quae reverentia legum, "Nor law, nor checks of conscience will he hear, "Inter cuncta leges et percontabere doctos, Hebrew Betterט֛וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good what the eye עֵינַ֖יִם (‘ê·na·yim) Noun - cd Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain can see מַרְאֵ֥ה (mar·’êh) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4758: Sight, appearance, vision than the wandering מֵֽהֲלָךְ־ (mê·hă·lāḵ-) Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk of desire. נָ֑פֶשׁ (nā·p̄eš) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion This זֶ֥ה (zeh) Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that too גַּם־ (gam-) Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and is futile הֶ֖בֶל (he·ḇel) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory and a pursuit וּרְע֥וּת (ū·rə·‘ūṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 7469: A feeding upon, grasping after of the wind. רֽוּחַ׃ (rū·aḥ) Noun - common singular Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit Links Ecclesiastes 6:9 NIVEcclesiastes 6:9 NLT Ecclesiastes 6:9 ESV Ecclesiastes 6:9 NASB Ecclesiastes 6:9 KJV Ecclesiastes 6:9 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 6:9 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 6:9 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 6:9 French Bible Ecclesiastes 6:9 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 6:9 Better is the sight of the eyes (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) |
    |