12And 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.


In Context

9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

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

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

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.

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.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 in Other Translations

The King James Version of the Holy Bible

2:12And 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.

The New International Version of the Holy Bible

2:12Then 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?

The Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible

2:12I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I, that he can follow the King his maker?)

The American Standard Version of the Holy Bible

2:12And 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.

The Darby Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

2:12And 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.

The English Revised Version of the Holy Bible

2:12And 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.

The World English Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

2:12I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.

The Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

2:12And I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what is the man who cometh after the king? that which is already — they have done it!

The American King James Version of the Holy Bible

2:12And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that comes after the king? even that which has been already done.