Internet Verse Search Commentaries Word Analysis ITL - draft

Ecclesiastes 6:9

NETBible	It is better to be content with¹ what the eyes can see² than for one’s heart always to crave more.³ This continual longing⁴ is futile – like⁵ chasing the wind.
NIV © biblegateway Ecc 6:9	Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
NASB © biblegateway Ecc 6:9	What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.
NLT © biblegateway Ecc 6:9	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.
MSG © biblegateway Ecc 6:9	Just grab whatever you can while you can; don't assume something better might turn up by and by. All it amounts to anyway is smoke. And spitting into the wind.
BBE © SABDAweb Ecc 6:9	What the eyes see is better than the wandering of desire. This is to no purpose and a desire for wind.
NRSV © bibleoremus Ecc 6:9	Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
NKJV © biblegateway Ecc 6:9	Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
[+] More English


KJV	Better <02896> [is] the sight <04758> of the eyes <05869> than the wandering <01980> (8800) of the desire <05315>_: this [is] also vanity <01892> and vexation <07469> of spirit <07307>_. {than...: Heb. than the walking of the soul}
NASB © biblegateway Ecc 6:9	What <04758> the eyes <05869> see <04758> is better <02896> than <04480> what the soul <05315> desires <01980> . This <02088> too <01571> is futility <01892> and a striving <07469> after wind <07307> .
LXXM	agayon <18> A-NSN orama <3705> N-NSN ofyalmwn <3788> N-GPM uper <5228> PREP poreuomenon <4198> V-PMPAS quch <5590> N-DSF kai <2532> CONJ ge <1065> PRT touto <3778> D-NSN mataiothv <3153> N-NSF kai <2532> CONJ proairesiv {N-NSF} pneumatov <4151> N-GSN
NET [draft] ITL	It is better <02896> to be content with what the eyes <05869> can see <04758> than <01571> for one’s heart <05315> always to crave <01980> more. This <02088> continual longing is futile <01892> – like chasing <07469> the wind <07307> .
HEBREW	xwr <07307> twerw <07469> lbh <01892> hz <02088> Mg <01571> spn <05315> Klhm <01980> Mynye <05869> harm <04758> bwj (6:9) <02896>

NETBible

It is better to be content with¹ what the eyes can see² than for one’s heart always to crave more.³ This continual longing⁴ is futile – like⁵ chasing the wind.

NET Notes

¹tn The phrase “to be content with” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

²tn The expression מַרְאֵה עֵינַיִם (mar’eh ’enayim, “the seeing of the eyes”) is a metonymy of cause (i.e., seeing an object) for effect (i.e., being content with what the eyes can see); see E. W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech, 552-54.

³tn Heb “the roaming of the soul.” The expression מֵהֲלָךְ־נָפֶשׁ (mehalakh-nafesh, “the roaming of the soul”) is a metonymy for unfulfilled desires. The term “soul” (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh) is used as a metonymy of association for man’s desires and appetites (BDB 660 s.v. נֶפֶשׁ 5.c; 6.a). This also involves the personification of the roving appetite as “roving” (מֵהֲלָךְ); see BDB 235 s.v. הָלַךְ II.3.f; 232 I.3.

⁴tn The phrase “continual longing” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

⁵tn The term “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity and smoothness.