King James Version

Ecclesiastes 6:8

For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

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Hebrew

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כִּ֛יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…מַהmahhowמָהparticle, interrogative — “how”H4100properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senseshow (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.יּוֹתֵ֥רyoteroverיוֹתֵרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “over”, the ordinary formH3148properly, redundant; hence, over and above, as adjective, noun, adverb or conjunctionbetter, more(-over), over, profit.לֶחָכָ֖םlechakhamto wise , manחָכָםpreposition, with the article, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “to wise , man”, the ordinary formH2450wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).מִֽןminfromמִןpreposition — “from”H4480properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many sensesabove, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, [idiom] neither, [idiom] nor, (out) of, over, since, [idiom] then, through, [idiom] whether, with.הַכְּסִ֑ילhaksilthe foolכְּסִילdefinite article, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “the fool”, the ordinary formH3684properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or sillyfool(-ish).מַהmahhowמָהparticle, interrogative — “how”H4100properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senseshow (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.לֶּעָנִ֣יleanito afflictedעָנִיpreposition, with the article, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “to afflicted”, the ordinary formH6041depressed, in mind or circumstancesafflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor.יוֹדֵ֔עַyodeaknowיָדַעverb, qal, participle, absolute — “know”, a verb used as a describing wordH3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with…לַהֲלֹ֖ךְlahalokheto walkהָלַךְpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “to walk”, the to-form of the verbH1980to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)(all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, [phrase] be eased, enter, exercise (self), [phrase] follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), [phrase] gre…נֶ֥גֶדnegedagainstנֶגֶדpreposition — “against”H5048a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or beforeabout, (over) against, [idiom] aloof, [idiom] far (off), [idiom] from, over, presence, [idiom] other side, sight, [idiom] to view.הַחַיִּֽיםhachayimthe lifeחַיdefinite article, adjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “the life”, the ordinary formH2416alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively[phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living?

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk 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?

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?

Darby Translation

For what advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

Douay-Rheims

What hath the wise man more than the fool? and what the poor man, but to go thither, where there is life?

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living?

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For what advantage has the wise man over the fool, since even the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life?

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὅτι περίσσεια τῷ σοφῷ ὑπὲρ τὸν ἄφρονα, διότι ὁ πένης οἶδε πορευθῆναι κατέναντι τῆς ζωῆς.