Parallel Verses
NET Bible
I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:
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.
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.
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 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: 14 The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 7:11-12
Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.
Psalm 119:105
(Nun) Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path.
Psalm 119:130
Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. They give insight to the untrained.
Proverbs 4:5-7
Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak.
Proverbs 4:18-19
But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day.
Proverbs 16:16
How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.
Ecclesiastes 7:19
Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.
Ecclesiastes 9:16
So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man's wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.
Ecclesiastes 9:18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.
Ecclesiastes 11:7
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun.
Malachi 3:18-2
Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.
Matthew 6:23
But if your eye is diseased, 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 diseased, your body is full of darkness.
Ephesians 5:8
for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light --