Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better what the eyes behold, than the wandering of desire,—even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.

The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham

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 profit hath the wise man, over the dullard? What can, the poor man, know—so as to walk before the living?

10Whatsoever one may be, long ago, was he called by his name, and it is known that it is—Son of Earth,—he cannot, therefore, contend with one stronger than he.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 6

Cross References

Job 31:7If my goings have swerved from the way,—and, after mine eyes, hath gone my heart, and, to my hands, hath adhered any stain,

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

Ecclesiastes 1:17yea I have given my heart, to know wisdom, and to know madness, and folly,—I know that, even this, is a feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:22For what hath the man for all his toil, and for the striving of his heart,—wherein, he himself, toiled under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 4:4Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour,—even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:2A man to whom God giveth riches and gains and honour, so that nothing doth he lack for his soul—of all that he craveth, and yet God doth not give him power to eat thereof, but, a man unknown, eateth it,—this, was vanity, and, an incurable evil, it was.

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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