Ecclesiastes 6:9 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

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

English ASV

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

English Amplified

Better is the sight of the eyes [the enjoyment of what is available to one] than the cravings of wandering desire. This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility) and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it!

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

Better is the sight of the eyes [the enjoyment of what is available to one] than the cravings of wandering desire. This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility) and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it!

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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

English EASY 2024

It is good to enjoy the things that we have. That is better than to want more things all the time. If you always try to get more things, that has no purpose. It is like somebody who tries to catch the wind.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

It is better to be happy with what you have than to always want more and more. Always wanting more and more is useless. It is like trying to catch the wind.

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

English GNT (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.

English God's Word - GW 1995

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.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

English KJV 1611

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

English LSB

What the eyes see is better than what the soul goes after. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Better to be content with the sight of eyes than to have a wandering appetite. This is vanity and a chasing after wind.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

"What the eyes see is better than what the desires wander after." This also is vanity and a chase after wind.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

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.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

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.

English NIV

Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

English NKJ 1982

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

English NLT

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

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

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

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

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

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; mere dreaming of nice things is foolish; it's chasing the wind.

English Tyndale 1537

The sight of the eyes is better, then that the soul should so depart away. Howbeit this is also a vain thing and a disquietness of mind.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 — Compare Translations