Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Parallel translations
- WEB Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
- KJV Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
- NKJV Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
- NASB What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and striving after wind.
- NLT Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Better to enjoy what is before your eyes than to wander after restless desire; this too is vanity. It matters because contentment with present blessings beats the endless chase of craving.
Overview
The Preacher commends a 'bird in hand' wisdom: be satisfied with what you have rather than roam after insatiable wants. Yet he honestly notes that even this contentment is touched by vanity in a fleeting world. The counsel commends grateful enjoyment of present gifts, a posture deepened by the gospel call to godliness with contentment (1 Timothy 6:6).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Eccl 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.
- 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,
- Eccl 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.
- Eccl 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.
- Eccl 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.
- Eccl 3:12–13I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,
- Eccl 1:2“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!”
- Eccl 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.
- Eccl 2:22–24For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?
- Eccl 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.
- Prov 30:15–16The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
- Jer 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.
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Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 6:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.