Ecclesiastes 6:9

The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: 1 This is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit. 1

Updated Brenton Septuagint

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 advantage has the wise man over the fool, 1 Since even the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life? 1

10If anything has been, its name has already been called: 1 And it is known what man is; 1 Neither can he contend with him who is stronger than he. 1

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Cross References

Job 31:7If my foot has turned aside out of the way, 1 Or if my heart has followed mine eye, 1 And if too I have touched gifts with my hands; 1

Ecclesiastes 1:2Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, 1 Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 1

Ecclesiastes 1:17And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, 1 Parables and understanding: 1 I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit. 1

Ecclesiastes 2:22For it happens to a man in all his labor, 1 And in the purpose of his heart 1 Wherein he labors under the sun. 1

Ecclesiastes 4:4And I saw all labor, 1 And all the diligent work, 1 That this is a man’s envy from his neighbor. 1 This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit. 1

Ecclesiastes 6:2A man to whom God shall give 1 Wealth, and substance, and honor, 1 And he wants nothing for his soul 1 Of all things that he shall desire, 1 Yet God shall not give him power to eat of it, 1 For a stranger shall devour it: 1 This is vanity, and an evil infirmity. 1

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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