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Ecclesiastes 6:9

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

Leeser Tanakh

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

8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk [properly] before the living?

10That which hath been is already called by its name, and it is known that he is a man: and he is not able to contend with him that is mightier than he.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Cross References

Job 31:7If my step have turned aside from the [proper] way, and my heart have walked after my eyes, and if any blemish have cleaved to my hands:

Ecclesiastes 1:2Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth, vanity of vanities: all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 1:17And I directed my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly; [but] I have perceived that this also is a torture of the spirit.

Ecclesiastes 2:22For what doth a man obtain of all his toil, and of the torture of his heart, wherewith he toileth under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 4:4Again, I beheld all the toil, and all the energy in doing, that it is [from] the envy of one man of his neighbor. Also this is vanity and a torture of the spirit.

Ecclesiastes 6:2[There is many] a man to whom God hath given riches, property, and honor, and nothing is wanting for his soul of all that he longeth for: yet God empowereth him not to eat thereof, but a stranger will consume 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 →

This Verse In Other Editions

King James VersionBíblia Almeida (Português)Luther Bibel (Deutsch)Bible Louis Segond (Français)Библия (Русский)聖經 (中文)성경 (한국어)الكتاب المقدس (العربية)बाइबल (हिन्दी)Biblia (Kiswahili)Bibbia Diodati (Italiano)Alkitab (Bahasa Indonesia)Kinh Thánh (Tiếng Việt)

Study Ecclesiastes 6:9

Matthew HenryJamieson-Fausset-BrownAdam ClarkeJohn WesleyJohn CalvinKeil and DelitzschScofieldFamily Bible NotesGeneva Bible Notes (1599)
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