Ecclesiastes 6:9 Parallel Translations

It is better to look at what is in front of you than to go looking for what you want. Even this is pointless. It's like trying to catch the wind.(GOD'S WORD®)

KJV:

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

ASV:

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

BBE:

What the eyes see is better than the wandering of desire. This is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

DBY:

Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

ERV:

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

JPS:

Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire; this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

WBS:

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

WEB:

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

YLT:

Better is the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 Cross References

XREF:

Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

6:9 Better [is] the {g} sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.
(g) To be content with that which God has given is better than to follow the desires that can never be satisfied.

WES:

6:9 The fight - The comfortable enjoyment of what a man hath. Than - Restless desires of what a man hath not. This - Wandering of the desire.

MHC:

6:7-12 A little will serve to sustain us comfortably, and a great deal can do no more. The desires of the soul find nothing in the wealth of the world to give satisfaction. The poor man has comfort as well as the richest, and is under no real disadvantage. We cannot say, Better is the sight of the eyes than the resting of the soul in God; for it is better to live by faith in things to come, than to live by sense, which dwells only upon present things. Our lot is appointed. We have what pleases God, and let that please us. The greatest possessions and honours cannot set us above the common events of human life. Seeing that the things men pursue on earth increase vanities, what is man the better for his worldly devices? Our life upon earth is to be reckoned by days. It is fleeting and uncertain, and with little in it to be fond of, or to be depended on. Let us return to God, trust in his mercy through Jesus Christ, and submit to his will. Then soon shall we glide through this vexatious world, and find ourselves in that happy place, where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore.

CONC:

Appetite Better Chasing Desire Desires Eye Futility Meaningless Purpose Pursuit Roving Seeing Sees Sight Soul Spirit Striving Vanity Vexation Wandering Wind

Appetite Better Chasing Desire Desires Eye Eyes Futility Meaningless Pursuit Roving Sight Soul Spirit Striving Vanity Vexation Wandering Wind

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

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