Ecclesiastes 6:8

So then, what real advantage do wise people have over those who are fools? And do poor people really gain anything in knowing how to behave in front of others?

Free Bible Version

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

7Everyone works so they can live, but they're never satisfied.

9Be happy with what you have instead of running after what you don't! But this is also hard to do, like running after the wind.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Cross References

Genesis 17:1When Abram was 99, the Lord appeared to him and told him, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and don't do wrong.

Psalms 116:9Now I can walk with the Lord in the land of the living.

Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise see where they're going, but fools walk in darkness. But I also realized that they all come to the same end.

Luke 1:6They both did what was right before God, being careful to follow all the Lord's commandments and regulations.

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