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Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.

Noyes Bible

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 hath the wise man over the fool? What advantage hath the poor, who knoweth how to walk before the living?

10That which is was long ago called by name; and it was known that he is a man, and that he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Cross References

Job 31:7If my steps have turned aside from the way, And my heart gone after mine eyes, Or if any stain hath cleaved to my hand,

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

Ecclesiastes 1:17And I gave my mind to know wisdom, and to know senselessness and folly; I perceived that this also is striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:22For what hath man of all his labor, and the striving of his spirit, with which he wearieth himself under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 4:4And I saw all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:2a man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honor, and nothing is wanting to him of all which he desireth, yet God giveth him not to taste thereof; but a stranger enjoyeth it. This is vanity, yea, a grievous evil.

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 Portuguesa MundialLuther Bibel (Deutsch)Bible Louis Segond (Français)Библия (Русский)新标点和合本성경 (한국어)الكتاب المقدس باللغة العربية، فان دايكBibbia Diodati (Italiano)Kinh Thánh (Tiếng Việt)Biblia Cornilescu (Română)Polish Biblia Gdanska (1881)Statenvertaling (Nederlands)

Study Ecclesiastes 6:9

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