Ecclesiastes 6:8
6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?
- KJV
- For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
- WEB
- For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
- ASV
- For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?
- DARBY
- For what advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
- BLB
- Indeed, what advantage [is] for the wise one over the fool? What [is] to the poor one knowing how to walk before the living?
- ÅB
- for hvilket fortrinn har den vise fremfor dåren? Hvilket fortrinn har den fattige som vet å skikke seg blant de levende?
- OTB
- Hvilken fordel har den vise over dåren? Hvilken nytte har den fattige av å vite hvordan de skal oppføre seg blant de levende?
- B1930
- for hvad fortrin har den vise fremfor dåren? Hvad fortrin har den fattige som vet å skikke sig blandt de levende?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 19:1
Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:14–16
The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
Read in contextPsalms 116:9
I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Read in contextPsalms 101:2
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 5:11
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
Read in context1 Timothy 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Read in contextLuke 1:6
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Read in contextGenesis 17:1
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Read in context