ECC 6:9 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) It’s better to enjoy what’s right there than to feed the imagination.
⇔ That’s also pointless and chasing after the wind.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Ἀγαθὸν ὅραμα ὀφθαλμῶν ὑπερπορευόμενον ψυχῇ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
(Agathon horama ofthalmōn huperporeuomenon psuⱪaʸ; kai ge touto mataiotaʸs kai proairesis pneumatos.)

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

ULT Better is a sight of the eyes
⇔ than the walking of the soul.
⇔ Also this is vapor and pursuit of wind.

UST It is like people also say:
⇔ “It is better to enjoy the things that one already has
⇔ than to allow one's never-ending, impulsive desire to inform one's decisions.”

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

MSB (Same as BSB above)

OEB No OEB ECC book available

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

WMBB (Same as above)

NET 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.

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

FBV Be happy with what you have instead of running after what you don't! But this is also hard to do, like running after the wind.

T4T It is better to enjoy the things that we already have [MTY]
⇔ than to constantly want more things;
⇔ continually wanting more things is senseless,
⇔ like chasing the wind.

LEB • Better to be content with what your eyes see
• than for your soul to constantly crave more .[fn]
• This also is vanity and chasing wind!

6:6 Literally “Sight of the eyes is better than wandering of desire”

BBE What the eyes see is better than the wandering of desire. This is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

Moff Better a joy at hand
⇔ than wants that roam abroad.

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

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

DRA 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.

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

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

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

SLT Good the sight of the eyes above the going of the soul. Also this is vanity and striving of spirit.

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

KJB-1769 ¶ Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.[fn]
(¶ Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation/frustration of spirit.)

6.9 than…: Heb. than the walking of the soul

KJB-1611 ¶ [fn]Better is the sight of the eyes, then the wandering of the desire: this is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.
(¶ Better is the sight of the eyes, then the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation/frustration of spirit.)

6:9 Heb. then the walking of the soule.

Bshps The cleare sight of the eye, is better then that the soule shoulde walke after desires of the lust: Howbeit, this is also a vayne thyng, and a disquietnesse of mynde.
(The clear sight of the eye, is better then that the soul should walk after desires of the lust: Howbeit, this is also a vain thing, and a disquietness of mind.)

Gnva The sight of ye eye is better then to walke in ye lustes: this also is vanitie, and vexation of spirit.
(The sight of ye/you_all eye is better then to walk in ye/you_all lusts: this also is vanity, and vexation/frustration of spirit.)

Cvdl 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.
(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.)

Wycl It is betere to se that, that thou coueitist, than to desire that, that thou knowist not; but also this is vanyte, and presumpcioun of spirit.
(It is better to see that, that thou/you coueitist, than to desire that, that thou/you knowest/know not; but also this is vanity, and presumpcioun of spirit.)

Luth Es ist besser, das gegenwärtige Gut gebrauchen, denn nach anderm gedenken. Das ist auch Eitelkeit und Jammer.
(It is better, the currentlye good_(one) gebrauchen, because/than after other commemorate. The is also vanity and misery.)

ClVg Melius est videre quod cupias, quam desiderare quod nescias. Sed et hoc vanitas est, et præsumptio spiritus.
(Better it_is to_see that cupias, how desiderare that nescias. But and this vanity it_is, and beforesumptio spirit.)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וּ⁠רְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ

and,striving_of wind

Solomon is using pursuit of wind as a common expression of the culture to mean “a futile effort.” If this phrase does not have that meaning for your readers, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and a futile effort]

Note 2 topic: writing-proverbs

ט֛וֹב מַרְאֵ֥ה עֵינַ֖יִם מֵֽ⁠הֲלָךְ־נָ֑פֶשׁ

good what_~_see_of eyes more,than_going soul

Here Solomon uses a proverb in order to teach that it is better to enjoy what one presently has than to chase after unfulfilled desires. Translate this proverb in a way that will be recognized as a proverb and be meaningful in your language and culture. Alternate translation: [Better is what the eyes see than what the soul craves]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

מַרְאֵ֥ה עֵינַ֖יִם

what_~_see_of eyes

Solomon is using the possessive form to describe a sight that is perceived by the eyes. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [is a sight seen with the eyes]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מַרְאֵ֥ה עֵינַ֖יִם

what_~_see_of eyes

Here, a sight of the eyes represents “what a person can see and enjoy.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [is what a person can see and enjoy]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

מֵֽ⁠הֲלָךְ־נָ֑פֶשׁ

more,than_going soul

Solomon is using the possessive form to describe a walking that is done by the soul. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [where the soul wanders]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מֵֽ⁠הֲלָךְ־נָ֑פֶשׁ

more,than_going soul

Solomon is speaking as if a person’s restless desire were a walking of the soul. He means the constant pursuit of what one does not have. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [one’s constant craving for what one does not have]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הֶ֖בֶל

Abel

See how you translated the similar expression in [6:2](../06/02.md).

Parallel ECC 6:9