Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible

And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.

King James Version

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

Holman Bible

And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness.

International Standard Version

I concluded that wisdom is more useful than foolishness, just as light is more useful than darkness.

A Conservative Version

Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as far as light excels darkness.

American Standard Version

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

Amplified

Then I saw that [even secular] wisdom [that brings sorrow] is better than [the pleasures of] folly and self-indulgence as light excels darkness.

Bible in Basic English

Then I saw that wisdom is better than foolish ways--as the light is better than the dark.

Darby Translation

And I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as light excelleth darkness.

Julia Smith Translation

And I saw there is profit to wisdom more than to folly, as the excellence of the light above darkness.

King James 2000

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

Lexham Expanded Bible

I realized that wisdom has an advantage over folly, just as light has an advantage over darkness.

Modern King James verseion

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

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

And I saw that wisdom excelleth foolishness, as far as light doth darkness.

NET Bible

I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:

New Heart English Bible

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

The Emphasized Bible

Then saw, I, that wisdom doth excel folly, - as far as light excelleth darkness.

Webster

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

World English Bible

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

Youngs Literal Translation

And I saw that there is an advantage to wisdom above folly, like the advantage of the light above the darkness.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
Then I saw
ראה 
Ra'ah 
Usage: 1308

ישׁ 
Yesh 
is, be, have, there,
Usage: 135

חכמה 
Chokmah 
Usage: 149

יתרון 
Yithrown 
יתרון 
Yithrown 
Usage: 10
Usage: 10

שׂכלוּת סכלוּת 
Cikluwth 
Usage: 7

as far as light
אור 
'owr 
Usage: 122

References

Verse Info

Context Readings

The Living Must Abandon The Work Of Their Hands To Others At Death

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? 13 And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both.

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 7:11-12

Wisdom along with an inheritance is good
And an advantage to those who see the sun.

Psalm 119:105

Nun.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

Psalm 119:130

The unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.

Proverbs 4:5-7

Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 4:18-19

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.

Proverbs 16:16

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

Ecclesiastes 7:19

Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

Ecclesiastes 9:16

So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.

Ecclesiastes 9:18

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Ecclesiastes 11:7

The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

Malachi 3:18-2

So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

Matthew 6:23

But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Luke 11:34-35

The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.

Ephesians 5:8

for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

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Word Concordance

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain