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Ecclesiastes 6:8–9

For what advantage has the wise man zover the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better ais the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is bvanity and a striving after wind.

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Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — The New International Version (NIV)

What advantage have the wise over fools?

What do the poor gain

by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?

Better what the eye sees

than the roving of the appetite.

This too is meaningless,

a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

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.

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — New Living Translation (NLT)

So are wise people really better off than fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others?

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

For what more has the wise man than the fool?

What does the poor man have,

Who knows how to walk before the living?

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire.

This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — New Century Version (NCV)

In this way a wise person

is no better off than a fool.

Then, too, it does a poor person little good

to know how to get along in life.

It is better to see what you have

than to want more.

Wanting more is useless—

like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — American Standard Version (ASV)

For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

For what advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

What advantage does a wise person have over a fool? What advantage does a poor person have in knowing how to face life? 

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. 

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

What advantage then does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others? Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

For what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct themselves before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

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?

Better to be content with what your eyes see

than for your soul to constantly crave more.

This also is vanity and chasing wind!

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

What advantage does a wise man have

over someone who is foolish?

What does a poor man gain

by knowing how to act toward others?

Being satisfied with what you have

is better than always wanting more.

That doesn’t have any meaning either.

It’s like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:8–9 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living?

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


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