Parallel Verses
Bible in Basic English
Then I saw that wisdom is better than foolish ways--as the light is better than the dark.
New American Standard Bible
And I saw that
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.
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.
Themes
Folly » Of men » General references to
Light » Described as » Useful and precious
Wisdom » True wisdom, general references to » The preciousness of
Interlinear
Ra'ah
Yithrown
יתרון
Yithrown
Usage: 10
References
Watsons
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 2:13
Verse Info
Context Readings
The Living Must Abandon The Work Of Their Hands To Others At Death
12 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. 13 Then I saw that wisdom is better than foolish ways--as the light is better than the dark. 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the foolish man goes walking in the dark; but still I saw that the same event comes to them all.
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 7:11-12
Wisdom together with a heritage is good, and a profit to those who see the sun.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a light for my feet, ever shining on my way.
Psalm 119:130
The opening of your words gives light; it gives good sense to the simple.
Proverbs 4:5-7
Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth.
Proverbs 4:18-19
But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day.
Proverbs 16:16
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.
Ecclesiastes 7:19
Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a town.
Ecclesiastes 9:16
Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength, but the poor man's wisdom is not respected, and his words are not given a hearing.
Ecclesiastes 9:18
Wisdom is better than instruments of war, but one sinner is the destruction of much good.
Ecclesiastes 11:7
Truly the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
Malachi 3:18-2
Then you will again see how the upright man is different from the sinner, and the servant of God from him who is not.
Matthew 6:23
But if your eye is evil, all your body will be dark. If then the light which is in you is dark, how dark it will be!
Luke 11:34-35
The light of the body is the eye: when your eye is true, all your body is full of light; but when it is evil, your body is dark.
Ephesians 5:8
For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light