Parallel Verses
NET Bible
Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done?
New American Standard Bible
So I turned to
King 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.
Holman Bible
Then I turned to consider wisdom,
International Standard Version
Next I turned to examine wisdom, insanity, and foolishness, because what can a person do who succeeds the king except what has already been accomplished?
A Conservative Version
And I turned myself to behold wisdom and madness and folly. For what [can] the man [do] who comes after the king? [Even] that which has been done long ago.
American Standard 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 done long ago.
Amplified
So I turned to consider [secular] wisdom, madness, and folly; for what will the man do who succeeds the king? Nothing except what has already been done.
Bible in Basic English
And I went again in search of wisdom and of foolish ways. What may the man do who comes after the king? The thing which he has done before.
Darby Translation
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.
Julia Smith Translation
And I turned to see wisdom, madness, and folly: for what the man that shall come after the king? with those things they did already.
King James 2000
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can a man do that comes after the king? even that which has been already done.
Lexham Expanded 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?
Modern King James verseion
And I turned to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly; for what can the man do who comes after the king, when they have already done it?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Then turned I me to consider wisdom, error and foolishness: for what is he among men, that might be compared to me the king in such work?
New Heart English Bible
I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can the man who comes after the king do? Just that which he has already done.
The Emphasized Bible
Thus turned, I, to look at wisdom, and madness and folly, - for what can the man do more who cometh after the king? save that which, already, men have done.
Webster
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.
World English Bible
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.
Youngs Literal Translation
And 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!
Interlinear
Panah
References
Hastings
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 2:12
Verse Info
Context Readings
The Living Must Abandon The Work Of Their Hands To Others At Death
11 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." 12 Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done? 13 I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:
Phrases
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 1:17
So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!
Ecclesiastes 7:25
I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10
What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.