¹²So I turned to ^asee wisdom, madness, and simpleminded folly. What will the man do who will come after the king except ^bwhat has already been done?

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Cross references

a Eccl 1:17
b Eccl 1:9, 10; 3:15

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly, for what will the king’s successor be like? He will do what has already been done.

NLTNew Living Translation

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

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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?

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

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