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Ecclesiastes 6:9

ContentmentWisdomMoney and wealth

7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

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.

11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
KJV
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
WEB
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
ASV
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
DARBY
Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
BLB
Better is a sight of the eyes than the wandering of the soul; this also [is] vapor and a striving after the wind.
ÅB
Bedre er det at øynene dveler ved det en har, enn at sjelen farer urolig om; også det er tomhet og jag etter vind.
OTB
Bedre er det øynene ser enn det begjæret flakker etter. Også dette er tomhet, et jag etter vind.
B1930
Bedre er det at øinene dveler ved det en har, enn at sjelen farer urolig om; også det er tomhet og jag efter vind.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 1:14

    I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

    Read in context

  • 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;

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 11:9

    Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 4:4

    Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 2:11

    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.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 1:2

    Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

    Read in context

  • 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.

    Read in context

  • 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.

    Read in context