Ecclesiastes 2:12
What does Ecclesiastes 2:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Ecclesiastes 2:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for whatcanthe mandothat cometh after the king? even that which hath been done long ago.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for whatcanthe mandothat cometh after the king? even that which hath been done long ago.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And 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.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what <FI>is<Fi> the man who cometh after the king? that which <FI>is<Fi> already--they have done it!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I that he can follow the King his maker?)
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And 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.
Context
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ecclesiastes 1:9
That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
- Ecclesiastes 7:25
I turned about, and my heart was set to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.
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