Ecclesiastes 2:12 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

¹² So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly, for what can the king’s successor do? Only what has already been done.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹² And 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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹² So I turned to consider [human] wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the man do who succeeds the king? Nothing but what has been done already.

American Standard Version (1901)

¹² And 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 done long ago.

Common English Bible

¹² My reflections then turned to wisdom, madness, and folly. What can the king’s heir do but what has already been done?

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹² I continued on, so as to contemplate wisdom, as well as error and foolishness. "What is man," I said, "that he would be able to follow his Maker, the King?"

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹² I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I, that he can follow the King his maker?)

Ecclesiastes 2:12 Cross References

Ecclesiastes 1:17

And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:15

That which is already has been, that which is to be already is, and God seeks out what has gone by.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I turned my mind to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the sum of things and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness.