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Ecclesiastes 2:12

Wisdom

10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished?
KJV
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
WEB
I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly; for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
ASV
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what [can] the man [do] that cometh after the king? [even] that which hath been done long ago.
DARBY
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly; for what shall the man [do] that cometh after the king? that which hath already been done.
BLB
And I turned to look at wisdom and madness and folly. For what [is] the man who comes after the king—that which already they have done!
ÅB
Så gav jeg meg til å se på visdom og på dårskap og uforstand; for hva vil det menneske gjøre som kommer etter kongen? Det samme som andre har gjort for lenge siden.
OTB
Så vendte jeg mine tanker til å overveie visdom, galskap og dårskap. Hva mer kan etterfølgeren til kongen gjøre enn det som allerede er gjort?
B1930
Så gav jeg mig til å se på visdom og på dårskap og uforstand; for hvad vil det menneske gjøre som kommer efter kongen? Det samme som andre har gjort for lenge siden.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 1:17

    And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 7:25

    I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 1:9–10

    The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

    Read in context