Parallel Verses

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.

New American Standard Bible

What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.

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. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

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.

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!

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.

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

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
is the sight
מראה 
Mar'eh 
Usage: 104

of the eyes
עין 
`ayin 
Usage: 372

הלך 
Halak 
go, walk, come, ...away, ...along,
Usage: 1545

of the desire
נפשׁ 
Nephesh 
Usage: 753

הבל הבל 
hebel 
Usage: 73

and vexation
רעוּת 
R@`uwth 
Usage: 7

References

Hastings

Context Readings

One Must Learn To Be Content With What One Has

8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? What helpeth it the poor, that he knoweth to walk before the living? 9 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. 10 The thing that hath been is named already, and known - that it is man himself: neither may he go to law with him that is mightier than he.

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 1:14

Thus I have considered all the things that come to pass under the Sun, and lo, they are all but vanity and vexation of mind.

Job 31:7

If so be that I have withdrawn my foot out of the right way, if my heart hath followed mine eyesight, if I have stained or defiled my hands,

Proverbs 30:15-16

This generation which is like a horse-leech, hath two daughters; the one is called "fetch hither," and the other "bring hither."

Ecclesiastes 1:2

All is but vanity - sayeth the Preacher - all is but plain vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

But when I considered all the works that my hands had wrought, and all the labours that I had taken therein: Lo, all was vanity and vexation of mind, and nothing of any value under the Sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:22-24

For what getteth a man of all the labor and travail of his mind, that he taketh under the Sun,

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

So I perceived, that in these things there is nothing better for a man, then to be merry and to do well so long as he liveth.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Again, I saw that all travail and diligence of labour was hated of every man. This is also a vain thing, and a vexation of mind.

Ecclesiastes 5:18

Therefore me think it a better and fairer thing, a man to eat and drink, and to be refreshed of all his labour that he taketh under the Sun all the days of his life which God giveth him: for this is his portion.

Ecclesiastes 6:2

When God giveth a man riches, goods and honour, so that he wanteth nothing of all that his heart can desire, and yet God giveth him not leave to enjoy the same, but another man spendeth them. This is a vain thing and a miserable plague.

Ecclesiastes 11:9

Be glad then, O thou young man, in thy youth, and let thine heart be merry in thy young days; follow the ways of thine own heart, and the lust of thine eyes: but be thou sure, that God shall bring thee into judgment for all these things.

Jeremiah 2:20

"I have ever broken thy yoke of old, and bursten thy bonds: yet sayest thou, 'I will no more serve.' But like a harlot thou runnest about upon all high hills,

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

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

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain