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For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [a]or what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. 10 [b]Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is known what [c]man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 6:8 Or, or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living
  2. Ecclesiastes 6:10 Or, Whatsoever he be, his name was given him long ago, and it is known that he is man
  3. Ecclesiastes 6:10 Hebrew Adam. See Gen. 2:7.

What advantage have the wise over fools?(A)
What do the poor gain
    by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
Better what the eye sees
    than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
    a chasing after the wind.(B)

10 Whatever exists has already been named,(C)
    and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
    with someone who is stronger.

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