Ecclesiastes 6:9

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.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

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

In Context

8What do the wise have which is more than the foolish? And what does the pauper have, except to continue on to that place, where there is life?

10Whoever shall be in the future, his name has already been called. And it is known that he is a man and that he is not able to contend in judgment against one who is stronger than himself.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Cross References

Job 31:7If my steps have turned aside from the way, or if my heart has followed my eyes, or if a blemish has clung to my hands,

Ecclesiastes 1:2Ecclesiastes said: Vanity of vanities! Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity!

Ecclesiastes 1:17And I have dedicated my heart, so that I may know prudence and doctrine, and also error and foolishness. Yet I recognize that, in these things also, there is hardship, and affliction of the spirit.

Ecclesiastes 2:22For how can a man benefit from all his labor and affliction of spirit, by which he has been tormented under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 4:4Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.

Ecclesiastes 6:2It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 6:8-11

The Insatiableness of Desire. 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? 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. The preacher here further shows the vanity and folly of… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

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