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.

眼睛所看的比心里妄想的倒好。这也是虚空，也是捕风。

眼睛所看的比心里妄想的倒好。这也是虚空，也是捕风。

眼睛所看的比心里妄想的倒好。这也是虚空，也是捕风。

满足于眼前所有的，胜过心中贪想的。这也是虚空，如同捕风。

眼睛看见的，胜过心中想望的。这也是虚空，也是捕风。

眼睛所见的好过心里妄想。这也是虚空，也是捕风！

眼睛所看的比心裏妄想的倒好。這也是虛空，也是捕風。

眼睛所看的比心裏妄想的倒好。這也是虛空，也是捕風。

眼睛所看的比心裏妄想的倒好。這也是虛空，也是捕風。

滿足於眼前所有的，勝過心中貪想的。這也是虛空，如同捕風。

眼睛看見的，勝過心中想望的。這也是虛空，也是捕風。

眼睛看到的比心裏轉來轉去想的好：這也是虛空，也是捕風。

眼睛所見的好過心裡妄想。這也是虛空，也是捕風！

目之睹、勝於欲之縱、斯亦虛空、乃為捕風、○

寧享現在之福、勿作出位之思、莫非捕風捉影。

目睹勝於心戀、然皆屬於虛、皆如捕風、○

Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Being satisfied with what you have is better than always wanting more. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

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

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless— like chasing the wind.

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

What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and striving after wind.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

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

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

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

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

I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!

The leech has two daughters:“ Give! Give!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say,“ Enough”–the grave, the barren womb, land that is not satisfied with water, and fire that never says,“ Enough!”

I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.

God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor– instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.

I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

If my footsteps have strayed from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, or if anything has defiled my hands,

Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless– like chasing the wind.

What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded:“ All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless– like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”

“ Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher,“ Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”

Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.

“ Indeed, long ago you threw off my authority and refused to be subject to me. You said,‘ I will not serve you.’ Instead, you gave yourself to other gods on every high hill and under every green tree, like a prostitute sprawls out before her lovers.