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Ecclesiastes 2:12

The Vanity of Living Wisely

12 qSo I turned to consider rwisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only swhat has already been done.

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Ecclesiastes 2:12 — The New International Version (NIV)

12 Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom,

and also madness and folly.

What more can the king’s successor do

than what has already been done?

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

12 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.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — New Living Translation (NLT)

12 So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?).

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

12 Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly;

For what can the man do who succeeds the king?—

Only what he has already done.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — New Century Version (NCV)

12 Then I began to think again about being wise,

and also about being foolish and doing crazy things.

But after all, what more can anyone do?

He can’t do more than what the other king has already done.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — American Standard Version (ASV)

12 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.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

12 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.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

12 Then I turned ⸤my attention⸥ to experience wisdom, madness, and foolishness. For instance, what can the man who replaces the king do? Only what has already been done.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

12 Then I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly, for what will the man be like who comes after the king? He will do what has already been done.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

12 So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the one do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

12 Next, I considered wisdom, as well as delusion and folly. What can anyone do who will come after the king that has not already been done?

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

12 I decided to think about wisdom.

I also thought about foolish pleasure.

What more can a new king do?

Can he do anything more than others have already done?

Ecclesiastes 2:12 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

12 So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except what has already been done?


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