"Better {is} the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this {is} also vanity and vexation of spirit. {than.…" — Ecclesiastes 6:9

Ecclesiastes 6:9 · KJV

“Better {is} the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this {is} also vanity and vexation of spirit. {than...: Heb. than the walking of the soul}”

— Ecclesiastes 6:9

Verse 8

For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

Verse 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.

Ecclesiastes 6 — Context

All the labour of man {is} for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. {appetite: Heb. soul}

For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

Better {is} the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this {is} also vanity and vexation of spirit. {than...: Heb. than the walking of the soul}

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.

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what {is} man the better?

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all {is} vanity and vexation of spirit.

Job 31:7

If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This {is} also vanity and vexation of spirit. {every...: Heb. all the rightness of work} {for this...: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour}

Ecclesiastes 11:9

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these {things} God will bring thee into judgment.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

I know that {there is} no good in them, but for {a man} to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all {is} vanity.

Ecclesiastes 5:18

Behold {that} which I have seen: {it is} good and comely {for one} to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it {is} his portion. {It is good...: Heb. there is a good which is comely, etc} {all the days: Heb. the number of the days}

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all {was} vanity and vexation of spirit, and {there was} no profit under the sun.