Ecclesiastes 6:9
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.”
A short, plain-language explanation of Ecclesiastes 6:9 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
“Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.”
Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)“Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.”
King James Version · Public Domain“Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.”
American Standard Version · Public Domain“Better <FI>is<Fi> the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also <FI>is<Fi> vanity and vexation of spirit.”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Ecclesiastes 6:9 — 13 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 31:7If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,
- Proverbs 30:15The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
- Ecclesiastes 1:2“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!”
- Ecclesiastes 1:14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 1:17So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 2:11Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 2:22For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?
- Ecclesiastes 3:12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,
- Ecclesiastes 4:4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 5:18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.
- Ecclesiastes 6:2God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
- Jeremiah 2:20“For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).