"And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what {can} the man {do} that cometh after the king? {e…" — Ecclesiastes 2:12

Ecclesiastes 2:12 · 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. {even...: or, in those things which have been already done}”

— Ecclesiastes 2:12

Verse 11

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all {was} vanity and vexation of spirit, and {there was} no profit under the sun.

Verse 13

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. {that...: Heb. that there is an excellency in wisdom more than in folly, etc}

Ecclesiastes 2 — Context

And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all {was} vanity and vexation of spirit, and {there was} no profit under the sun.

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. {even...: or, in those things which have been already done}

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. {that...: Heb. that there is an excellency in wisdom more than in folly, etc}

The wise man's eyes {are} in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 1:17

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason {of things}, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness {and} madness: {I applied...: Heb. I and mine heart compassed}

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

The thing that hath been, it {is that} which shall be; and that which is done {is} that which shall be done: and {there is} no new {thing} under the sun.