Parallel Verses
Lexham Expanded Bible
{Better to be content with what your eyes see than for your soul to constantly crave more}. This also [is] vanity and chasing wind!
New American Standard Bible
What the eyes
King James Version
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
Holman Bible
Better what the eyes see than wandering desire.
International Standard Version
It is better to focus on what you can see than to meander after your self-interest; this also is pointless and a chasing after wind.
A Conservative Version
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
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Amplified
What the eyes see [enjoying what is available] is better than [craving] what the soul desires. This too is futility and chasing after the wind.
Bible in Basic English
What the eyes see is better than the wandering of desire. This is to no purpose and a desire for wind.
Darby Translation
Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
Julia Smith Translation
Good the sight of the eyes above the going of the soul. Also this is vanity and striving of spirit
King James 2000
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and grasping after the wind.
Modern King James verseion
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
The sight of the eyes is better, then that the soul should so depart away. Howbeit, this is also a vain thing and a disquietness of mind.
NET Bible
It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile -- like chasing the wind.
New Heart English Bible
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
The Emphasized Bible
Better what the eyes behold, than the wandering of desire, - even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
Webster
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
World English Bible
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Youngs Literal Translation
Better is the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Interlinear
Towb
`ayin
References
Hastings
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 6:9
Verse Info
Context Readings
One Must Learn To Be Content With What One Has
8 So do the wise [really] have an advantage over fools? {Can the poor [really] gain anything by knowing how to act in front of others}? 9 {Better to be content with what your eyes see than for your soul to constantly crave more}. This also [is] vanity and chasing wind! 10 Whatever is--it was already determined, {what will be--it has already been decided}. As for man, he cannot argue against what is more powerful than him.
Names
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I saw all the works that are done under the sun. Look! Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind.
Job 31:7
If my steps have turned aside from the way, and my heart has walked after my eyes, and my hand has clung to a spot,
Proverbs 30:15-16
For the leech, [there are] two daughters; "Give, give!" [they cry]. As for three of these, they are not satisfied; as for four, they do not say enough.
Ecclesiastes 1:2
"Vanity of vanities!" says the Teacher, "Vanity of vanities! All [is] vanity!"
Ecclesiastes 2:11
Yet when I considered all the effort which I expended and the toil with which I toiled to do, then behold, "Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind! There is nothing profitable under the sun!"
Ecclesiastes 2:22-24
For what does a person receive for all his toil and in the longing of his heart with which he toils under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
So I realized that there is {nothing better} for them than to {rejoice and enjoy themselves} during their lives.
Ecclesiastes 4:4
I also realized that all [of the] toil and all [of] the skillful work that is done--it [is] envy between one man and {another}. This also [is] vanity and chasing wind!
Ecclesiastes 5:18
Look! I have discovered what is good and fitting: to eat and to drink and {to enjoy} all [the fruit of] the toil with which one toils under the sun during the number of the days of his life that God gives to him--for this [is] his lot.
Ecclesiastes 6:2
God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; yet God does not enable him to enjoy it--instead someone else ends up enjoying it. This [is] vanity--indeed, it [is] a grievous ill!
Ecclesiastes 11:9
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth! Follow the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes-- but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.
Jeremiah 2:20
"For from long ago you have broken your yoke, you tore to pieces your bonds. And you said, 'I will not serve!' But on every high hill and under every leafy tree you [were] lying down [as] a prostitute.