Ecclesiastes 6:9
Modern Translations
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 Study Bible
Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
Classic Translations
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.

King James 2000 Bible
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and grasping after 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.

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.

American King James Version
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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.

A Faithful Version
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This is also vanity and a striving after wind.

Darby Bible Translation
Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of 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.

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.

Early Modern
Geneva Bible of 1587
The sight of ye eye is better then to walke in ye lustes: this also is vanitie, & vexation of spirit.

Bishops' Bible of 1568
(6:8) The cleare sight of the eye, is better then that the soule shoulde walke after desires of the lust: Howbeit, this is also a vayne thyng, and a disquietnesse of mynde.

Coverdale Bible of 1535
The sight of the eyes is better, then that the soule shulde so departe awaye. Howbeit this is also a vayne thinge and a disquietnesse of mynde.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Better [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 Bible
Better 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.

Translations from Aramaic
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

Lamsa Bible
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire; this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Better 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.
















Ecclesiastes 6:8
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