Ecclesiastes 6:9
Cross References

Better 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.

Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,

Ecclesiastes 11:9
Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart be in that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these God will bring thee into judgment.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Better 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.

better

Ecclesiastes 2:24 Is it not better to eat and drink, and to shew his soul good things of his labours? and this is from the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:12,13 And I have known that there was no better thing than to rejoice, and to do well in this life. . . .

Ecclesiastes 5:18 This therefore hath seemed good to me, that a man should eat and drink, and enjoy the fruit of his labour, wherewith he hath laboured under the sun, all the days of his life, which God hath given him: and this is his portion.

wandering of the desire

Job 31:7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:

Proverbs 30:15,16 The horseleech hath two daughters that say: Bring, bring. There are three things that never are satisfied, and the fourth never saith: It is enough. . . .

Jeremiah 2:20 Of old time thou hast broken my yoke, thou hast burst my bands, and thou saidst: I will not serve. For on every high hill, and under every green tree thou didst prostitute thyself.

this

Ecclesiastes 6:2 A man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and honour, and his soul wanteth nothing of all that he desireth: yet God doth not give him power to eat thereof, but a stranger shall eat it up. This is vanity and a great misery.

Ecclesiastes 1:2,14 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes: vanity of vanities, and all is vanity. . . .

Ecclesiastes 2:11,22,23 And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands had wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured in vain, I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting under the sun. . . .

Ecclesiastes 4:4 Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care.

Context
The Futility of Life
8What hath the wise man more than the fool? and what the poor man, but to go thither, where there is life? 9Better 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.10He that shall be, his name is already called: and it is known, that he is a man, and cannot contend in judgment with him that is stronger than himself.…
Lexicon
Better
ט֛וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

what the eye
עֵינַ֖יִם (‘ê·na·yim)
Noun - cd
Strong's Hebrew 5869: An eye, a fountain

can see
מַרְאֵ֥ה (mar·’êh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's Hebrew 4758: Sight, appearance, vision

than the wandering
מֵֽהֲלָךְ־ (mê·hă·lāḵ-)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's Hebrew 1980: To go, come, walk

of desire.
נָ֑פֶשׁ (nā·p̄eš)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

This
זֶ֥ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2088: This, that

too
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's Hebrew 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

is futile
הֶ֖בֶל (he·ḇel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory

and a pursuit
וּרְע֥וּת (ū·rə·‘ūṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's Hebrew 7469: A feeding upon, grasping after

of the wind.
רֽוּחַ׃ (rū·aḥ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's Hebrew 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit


Additional Translations
Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit.

Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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