Modern Translations New International VersionBetter what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. New Living Translation Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind. English Standard Version Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Berean Study Bible Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. New American Standard Bible What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and striving after wind. NASB 1995 What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind. NASB 1977 What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind. Amplified Bible 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. Christian Standard Bible Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Holman Christian Standard Bible Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. Contemporary English Version It's better to enjoy what we have than to always want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind. Good News Translation It is useless; it is like chasing the wind. It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else. GOD'S WORD® Translation 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. 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. 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. Classic Translations King James BibleBetter is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. New King James Version Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. King James 2000 Bible Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and grasping after 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. 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. American King James Version Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 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. A Faithful Version Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This is also vanity and a striving after wind. Darby Bible Translation Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind. English Revised Version Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Webster's Bible Translation Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. Early Modern Geneva Bible of 1587The sight of ye eye is better then to walke in ye lustes: this also is vanitie, & vexation of spirit. Bishops' Bible of 1568 Coverdale Bible of 1535 The sight of the eyes is better, then that the soule shulde so departe awaye. Howbeit this is also a vayne thinge and a disquietnesse of mynde. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBetter [is] the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This [is] also vanity and distress of spirit. Young's Literal Translation Better is the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Smith's Literal Translation Good the sight of the eyes above the going of the soul. Also this is vanity and striving of spirit. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBetter it is to see what thou mayst desire, than to desire that which thou canst not know. But this also is vanity, and presumption of spirit. Catholic Public Domain Version It is better to see what you desire, than to desire what you cannot know. But this, too, is emptiness and a presumption of spirit. Translations from Aramaic Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedBetter the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul, and this also is futility and agitation of the soul Lamsa Bible Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire; this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire; this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Brenton Septuagint Translation The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit.     |