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 and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. 13 And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. 14 The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them.

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 7:11-12

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

Psalm 119:105

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 imparts understanding to the simple.

Proverbs 4:5-7

Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 4:18-19

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

Proverbs 16:16

How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Ecclesiastes 7:19

Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

Ecclesiastes 9:16

But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

Ecclesiastes 9:18

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

Ecclesiastes 11:7

Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

Malachi 3:18-2

Then once more you shall see the distinction 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 in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Luke 11:34-35

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.

Ephesians 5:8

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Jump To Previous

Jump To Next

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

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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