Ecclesiastes 6:9
Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire; this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
JPS TaNaKH 1917
In The King James Version
In Context
Cross References
Job 31:7If my step hath turned out of the way, and my heart walked after mine eyes, and if any spot hath cleaved to my hands;
Ecclesiastes 1:2Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 1:17And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly — I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:22For what hath a man of all his labour, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboureth under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 4:4Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:2a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
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 →