Ecclesiastes 6:8

What hath the wise man more than the fool? and what the poor man, but to go thither, where there is life?

Douay-Rheims 1899

In The King James Version

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

In Context

7All the labour of man is for his mouth, but his soul shall not be filled.

9Better 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.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Cross References

Genesis 17:1And after he began to be ninety and nine years old, the Lord appeared to him: and said unto him: I am the Almighty God: walk before me, and be perfect.

Psalms 116:9dummy verses inserted by amos

Ecclesiastes 2:14The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike.

Luke 1:6And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.

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 →

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Study Ecclesiastes 6:8