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Tuesday, May 13th, 2025
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THE MESSAGE
Ecclesiastes 6:8
So what advantage has a sage over a fool, or over some poor wretch who barely gets by? 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.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDevotionals:
- EveryParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
What advantage then does the wise person have over the fool? What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others?
What advantage then does the wise person have over the fool? What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others?
Hebrew Names Version
For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
King James Version
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
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?
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 person have over the fool? What does the poor person have, knowing how to walk before the living?
For what advantage does the wise person have over the fool? What does the poor person have, knowing how to walk before the living?
New Century Version
In this way a wise person is no better off than a fool. Then, too, it does a poor person little good to know how to get along in life.
In this way a wise person is no better off than a fool. Then, too, it does a poor person little good to know how to get along in life.
Amplified Bible
For what advantage has the wise man over the fool [for being worldly-wise is not the secret to happiness]? What advantage has the poor man who has learned how to walk [publicly] among the living [with men's eyes on him; for being poor is not the secret to happiness either]?
For what advantage has the wise man over the fool [for being worldly-wise is not the secret to happiness]? What advantage has the poor man who has learned how to walk [publicly] among the living [with men's eyes on him; for being poor is not the secret to happiness either]?
World English Bible
For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
Geneva Bible (1587)
For what hath the wise man more then the foole? what hath the poore that knoweth how to walke before the liuing?
For what hath the wise man more then the foole? what hath the poore that knoweth how to walke before the liuing?
Legacy Standard Bible
For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the afflicted man have, knowing how to walk before the living?
For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the afflicted man have, knowing how to walk before the living?
Berean Standard Bible
What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?
What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?
Contemporary English Version
We may be sensible, yet we are no better off than a fool. And if we are poor, it still doesn't do us any good to try to live right.
We may be sensible, yet we are no better off than a fool. And if we are poor, it still doesn't do us any good to try to live right.
Complete Jewish Bible
What advantage has the wise over the fool, or the person with experience, if he is poor?
What advantage has the wise over the fool, or the person with experience, if he is poor?
Darby Translation
For what advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
For what advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
Easy-to-Read Version
In the same way a wise person is no better than a fool is. It is better to be a poor person who knows how to accept life as it is.
In the same way a wise person is no better than a fool is. It is better to be a poor person who knows how to accept life as it is.
George Lamsa Translation
The wise man has an advantage over the fool. What! Does the poor man know how to go through life?
The wise man has an advantage over the fool. What! Does the poor man know how to go through life?
Good News Translation
How are the wise better off than fools? What good does it do the poor to know how to face life?
How are the wise better off than fools? What good does it do the poor to know how to face life?
Lexham English Bible
So do the wise really have an advantage over fools? Can the poor really gain anything by knowing how to act in front of others?
So do the wise really have an advantage over fools? Can the poor really gain anything by knowing how to act in front of others?
Literal Translation
For what is the advantage to the wise more than the fool? What advantage is to the poor who knows how to walk before the living?
For what is the advantage to the wise more than the fool? What advantage is to the poor who knows how to walk before the living?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For what hath the wyse more then the foole? What helpeth it the poore, that he knoweth to walke before the lyuynge?
For what hath the wyse more then the foole? What helpeth it the poore, that he knoweth to walke before the lyuynge?
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?
For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?
Bible in Basic English
What have the wise more than the foolish? and what has the poor man by walking wisely before the living?
What have the wise more than the foolish? and what has the poor man by walking wisely before the living?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living?
For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living?
King James Version (1611)
For what hath the wise more then the foole? what hath the poore, that knoweth to walke before the liuing?
For what hath the wise more then the foole? what hath the poore, that knoweth to walke before the liuing?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For what hath the wise more then the foole? What helpeth it the poore that he knoweth to walke with fooles before the lyuyng?
For what hath the wise more then the foole? What helpeth it the poore that he knoweth to walke with fooles before the lyuyng?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For what advantage has the wise man over the fool, since even the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life?
For what advantage has the wise man over the fool, since even the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life?
English Revised Version
For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or what hath the poor man, that knoweth to walk before the living?
For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or what hath the poor man, that knoweth to walk before the living?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
What hath a wijs man more than a fool? and what hath a pore man, no but that he go thidur, where is lijf?
What hath a wijs man more than a fool? and what hath a pore man, no but that he go thidur, where is lijf?
Update Bible Version
For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? [or] what has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? [or] what has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
Webster's Bible Translation
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
New English Translation
So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?
So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?
New King James Version
For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living?
For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living?
New Living Translation
So are wise people really better off than fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others?
So are wise people really better off than fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others?
New Life Bible
For what is better for the wise man than for the fool? And what good does the poor man have who knows how to walk among the living?
For what is better for the wise man than for the fool? And what good does the poor man have who knows how to walk among the living?
New Revised Standard
For what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct themselves before the living?
For what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct themselves before the living?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For what profit hath the wise man, over the dullard? What can, the poor man, know - so as to walk before the living?
For what profit hath the wise man, over the dullard? What can, the poor man, know - so as 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?
What hath the wise man more than the fool? and what the poor man, but to go thither, where there is life?
Revised 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?
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?
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?
For what advantage [is] to the wise above the fool? What to the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
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?
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?
Contextual Overview
7 We work to feed our appetites; Meanwhile our souls go hungry. 8So what advantage has a sage over a fool, or over some poor wretch who barely gets by? 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. 10 Whatever happens, happens. Its destiny is fixed. You can't argue with fate.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
what hath the wise: Ecclesiastes 2:14-16, Ecclesiastes 5:11
the poor: Genesis 17:1, Psalms 101:2, Psalms 116:9, Proverbs 19:1, Luke 1:6, 1 Timothy 6:17
Reciprocal: Ecclesiastes 2:16 - how Ecclesiastes 2:22 - hath man Romans 3:1 - advantage
Cross-References
Genesis 6:17
"I'm going to bring a flood on the Earth that will destroy everything alive under Heaven. Total destruction.
"I'm going to bring a flood on the Earth that will destroy everything alive under Heaven. Total destruction.
Psalms 145:20
God sticks by all who love him, but it's all over for those who don't.
God sticks by all who love him, but it's all over for those who don't.
Proverbs 12:2
A good person basks in the delight of God , and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.
A good person basks in the delight of God , and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.
Jeremiah 31:2
This is the way God put it: "They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!" God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You'll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. You'll go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, And sit back and enjoy the fruit— oh, how you'll enjoy those harvests! The time's coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: ‘On your feet! Let's go to Zion, go to meet our God !'"
This is the way God put it: "They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!" God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You'll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. You'll go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, And sit back and enjoy the fruit— oh, how you'll enjoy those harvests! The time's coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: ‘On your feet! Let's go to Zion, go to meet our God !'"
Romans 4:4
If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.
If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.
Romans 11:6
The Loyal Minority Does this mean, then, that God is so fed up with Israel that he'll have nothing more to do with them? Hardly. Remember that I, the one writing these things, am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham out of the tribe of Benjamin. You can't get much more Semitic than that! So we're not talking about repudiation. God has been too long involved with Israel, has too much invested, to simply wash his hands of them. Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel and cried out in prayer? God, they murdered your prophets, They trashed your altars; I'm the only one left and now they're after me! And do you remember God's answer? I still have seven thousand who haven't quit, Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish. It's the same today. There's a fiercely loyal minority still—not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. They're holding on, not because of what they think they're going to get out of it, but because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago.
The Loyal Minority Does this mean, then, that God is so fed up with Israel that he'll have nothing more to do with them? Hardly. Remember that I, the one writing these things, am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham out of the tribe of Benjamin. You can't get much more Semitic than that! So we're not talking about repudiation. God has been too long involved with Israel, has too much invested, to simply wash his hands of them. Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel and cried out in prayer? God, they murdered your prophets, They trashed your altars; I'm the only one left and now they're after me! And do you remember God's answer? I still have seven thousand who haven't quit, Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish. It's the same today. There's a fiercely loyal minority still—not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. They're holding on, not because of what they think they're going to get out of it, but because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let his grace go to waste. Haven't I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn't amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it. So whether you heard it from me or from those others, it's all the same: We spoke God's truth and you entrusted your lives.
But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let his grace go to waste. Haven't I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn't amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it. So whether you heard it from me or from those others, it's all the same: We spoke God's truth and you entrusted your lives.
Titus 2:11
God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
For what hath the wise more than the fool,.... More delight and pleasure, in gratifying his senses, by eating and drinking: the wise man enjoys no more than the fool; the fool finds as much pleasure in the labour of his hands, which is for his mouth, as the wise man does; and the wise man can get no more satisfaction to his mind, from these outward gratifications, than the fool;
what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? either, what does the poor man want more than the rich man, that knows how to get his bread, and is diligent and industrious among men to live, and does get a livelihood for himself and family; he enjoys all the sweets and comforts of life, as well as the rich man: or what hath the poor knowing man? as Aben Ezra interprets it, according to the accents; what has he more or does he enjoy more, than the poor foolish man, provided he has but sense enough to behave himself among men, so as to have bread to eat, and clothes to wear; which is as much as any man can enjoy, be he ever so rich or so wise?
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Connect these verses with Ecclesiastes 6:2-3 : “All labor is undertaken with a view to some profit, but as a rule the people who labor are never satisfied. What advantage then has he who labors if (being rich) he is wise, or if being poor he knows how to conduct himself properly; what advantage have such laborers above a fool? (None, so far as they are without contentment, for) a thing present before the eyes is preferable to a future which exists only in the desire.”
Ecclesiastes 6:8
What - literally, what profit (as in Ecclesiastes 1:3).
Knoweth ... living - i. e., “Knows how to conduct himself rightly among his contemporaries.”
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Ecclesiastes 6:8. For what hath the wise more than the fool? — They must both labour for the same end. Both depend upon the labour of themselves or others for the necessaries of life. Both must eat and drink in order to live; and the rich man can no more eat two meals at a time, than he can comfortably wear two changes of raiment. The necessaries of life are the same to both, and their condition in life is nearly similar; liable to the same diseases, dissolution, and death.
