Ecclesiastes 6:8 What advantage have the wise over fools? What do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?

◄ Ecclesiastes 6:8 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
What advantage have the wise over fools? What do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?

English Standard Version
For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living?

New American Standard Bible
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?

King James Bible
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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?

International Standard Version
For what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to face life?

American Standard Version
For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?

Douay-Rheims Bible
What hath the wise man more than the fool? and what the poor man, but to go thither, where there is life?

Darby Bible Translation
For what advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

Young's Literal Translation
For what advantage is to the wise above the fool? What to the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

6:7-12 A little will serve to sustain us comfortably, and a great deal can do no more. The desires of the soul find nothing in the wealth of the world to give satisfaction. The poor man has comfort as well as the richest, and is under no real disadvantage. We cannot say, Better is the sight of the eyes than the resting of the soul in God; for it is better to live by faith in things to come, than to live by sense, which dwells only upon present things. Our lot is appointed. We have what pleases God, and let that please us. The greatest possessions and honours cannot set us above the common events of human life. Seeing that the things men pursue on earth increase vanities, what is man the better for his worldly devices? Our life upon earth is to be reckoned by days. It is fleeting and uncertain, and with little in it to be fond of, or to be depended on. Let us return to God, trust in his mercy through Jesus Christ, and submit to his will. Then soon shall we glide through this vexatious world, and find ourselves in that happy place, where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. For—"However" [Maurer]. The "for" means (in contrast to the insatiability of the miser), For what else is the advantage which the wise man hath above the fool?"

What—advantage, that is, superiority, above him who knows not how to walk uprightly

hath the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?—that is, to use and enjoy life aright (Ec 5:18, 19), a cheerful, thankful, godly "walk" (Ps 116:9).