Verse 9

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

Other Translations

  • GT, oversatt fra Hebraisk

    Bedre er det å se med øynene enn å lengte etter noe som aldri kan oppnås; også dette er meningsløst og en jakt på det uoppnåelige.

  • Moderne oversettelse av Bibelen fra 1611 KJV med hebraisk kontekst

    Bedre er det å se med øynene enn å la ønsker vandre. Dette er også tomhet og jag etter vind.

  • Norsk King James

    Det er bedre å se med egne øyne enn å jage etter begjær; dette er også meningsløst og gir uro i sjelen.

  • Modernisert Norsk Bibel 1866

    Det er bedre å se med øynene enn at sjelen vandrer i sitt begjær; dette er også forgjengelighet og jag etter vind.

  • Oversettelse av hebraiske Bibeltekster til moderne norsk bokmål

    Bedre å se med øynene enn å begjære med sjelen. Også dette er forgjengelighet og et jag etter vind.

  • Bibelen: En Moderne Oversettelse av King James Version 1611

    Bedre er det å se med øynene enn å la ønsket vandre; også dette er tomhet og jag etter vind.

  • o3-mini KJV Norsk

    Bedre er det synlige for øyet enn en rastløs lengsel; dette er også tomhet og en plage for ånden.

  • En Moderne Oversettelse av King James Version 1611 (mar 2025)

    Bedre er det å se med øynene enn å la ønsket vandre; også dette er tomhet og jag etter vind.

  • Lingvistisk bibeloversettelse fra grunntekst

    Det er bedre å se med øynene enn å la sjelen vandre. Også dette er tomhet og jag etter vind.

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    Better is what the eyes see than the wandering of desire. This too is meaningless and a chasing after the wind.

  • biblecontext

    { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.6.9", "source": "ט֛וֹב מַרְאֵ֥ה עֵינַ֖יִם מֵֽהֲלָךְ־נָ֑פֶשׁ גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃", "text": "*Ṭôḇ* *marʾēh* *ʿênayim* from-*mēhălāḵ*-*nāpeš*; also-this *heḇel* and-*rəʿûṯ* *rûaḥ*.", "grammar": { "*Ṭôḇ*": "adjective, masculine singular - good/better", "*marʾēh*": "noun, masculine singular construct - sight of", "*ʿênayim*": "noun, feminine dual - eyes", "*mēhălāḵ*": "preposition + noun, masculine singular construct - from walking of", "*nāpeš*": "noun, feminine singular - soul", "*heḇel*": "noun, masculine singular - vanity/emptiness", "*rəʿûṯ*": "noun, feminine singular construct - striving after", "*rûaḥ*": "noun, feminine singular - wind/spirit" }, "variants": { "*marʾēh ʿênayim*": "sight of eyes/what one sees", "*hălāḵ-nāpeš*": "walking of soul/wandering of desire/roaming of appetite", "*heḇel*": "vanity/emptiness/futility/breath", "*rəʿûṯ rûaḥ*": "striving after wind/chasing after wind/vexation of spirit" } }

  • GT, oversatt fra hebraisk Aug2024

    Bedre er det å se med øynene enn å flakke med sjelen. Også dette er tomhet og jag etter vind.

  • Original Norsk Bibel 1866

    Det er bedre at see med Øinene, end at Sjælen vandrer (i sin Begjærlighed); dette er ogsaa Forfængelighed og Aandsfortærelse.

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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

  • KJV 1769 norsk

    Bedre er det å se med øynene enn å vandre med sjelen etter begjær: dette er også forgjeves, og en plage for ånden.

  • Norsk oversettelse av Webster

    Bedre er det å se med øynene enn å streife om med ønsket. Dette er også meningsløshet og et jag etter vinden.

  • Norsk oversettelse av Youngs Literal Translation

    Bedre er synets glede enn sjelens vandring. Dette er også forgjengelighet og åndens plage.

  • Norsk oversettelse av ASV1901

    Bedre er det å se med øynene enn at begjæret flakker; også dette er meningsløst og et jag etter vind.

  • Norsk oversettelse av BBE

    Det man ser med sine øyne er bedre enn å la ønsket vandre. Dette er meningsløst og et jag etter vind.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    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.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    The sight of ye eye is better then to walke in ye lustes: this also is vanitie, & vexation of spirit.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    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.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

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

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

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

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

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

  • American Standard Version (1901)

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

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

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

  • World English Bible (2000)

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

  • NET Bible® (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.

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 1:14 : 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
  • Eccl 2:11 : 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor I had toiled to do; and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
  • Eccl 2:22-24 : 22 For what has man from all his labor, and of the striving of his heart with which he has labored under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrowful, and his work is burdensome; even at night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity. 24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy the good of his labor. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God.
  • Eccl 3:12-13 : 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.
  • Eccl 4:4 : 4 Again, I considered all the toil and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
  • Eccl 5:18 : 18 Behold, what I have seen: it is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him; for it is his portion.
  • Eccl 6:2 : 2 A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he wants nothing for his soul of all he desires, yet God does not give him the power to eat of it, but a stranger eats it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
  • Eccl 11:9 : 9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes — but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
  • Jer 2:20 : 20 For from of old I have broken your yoke, and burst your bonds; and you said, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree you wandered, playing the harlot.
  • Job 31:7 : 7 If my step has turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if any stain has cleaved to my hands;
  • Prov 30:15-16 : 15 The leech has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, indeed four that say not, It is enough: 16 The grave, and the barren womb, the earth that is never filled with water, and the fire that never says, It is enough.
  • Eccl 1:2 : 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.