Ecclesiastes 6:8

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

Leeser Tanakh

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 toil of a man is for his mouth; and yet is his desire never filled.

9Better is what one seeth with the eyes than the wandering of the desire. Also this is vanity and a torture of the spirit.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Cross References

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

Psalms 116:9I will walk before the Lord in the land of life.

Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man hath his eyes in his head, while the fool walketh in darkness; but I myself perceived then also that one occurrence will befall all of them.

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

Study Ecclesiastes 6:8