Ecclesiastes 2:12
Ecclesiastes 2:12-14 The Message (MSG)
And then I took a hard look at what’s smart and what’s stupid. What’s left to do after you’ve been king? That’s a hard act to follow. You just do what you can, and that’s it. But I did see that it’s better to be smart than stupid, just as light is better than darkness. Even so, though the smart ones see where they’re going and the stupid ones grope in the dark, they’re all the same in the end. One fate for all—and that’s it.
Ecclesiastes 2:12 King James Version (KJV)
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.
Ecclesiastes 2:12 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except what has already been done?
Ecclesiastes 2:12 New Century Version (NCV)
Then I began to think again about being wise, and also about being foolish and doing crazy things. But after all, what more can anyone do? He can’t do more than what the other king has already done.
Ecclesiastes 2:12 American Standard Version (ASV)
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.
Ecclesiastes 2:12 New International Version (NIV)
Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king’s successor do than what has already been done?
Ecclesiastes 2:12 New King James Version (NKJV)
Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what can the man do who succeeds the king?— Only what he has already done.
Ecclesiastes 2:12 Amplified Bible (AMP)
So I turned to consider [secular] wisdom, madness, and folly; for what will the man do who succeeds the king? Nothing except what has already been done.