Parallel Verses
Lexham Expanded Bible
I realized that wisdom has an advantage over folly, just as light has an advantage over 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.
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.
NET Bible
I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to 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 considered wisdom, as well as delusion and folly. What can anyone [do] who will come after the king that has not already been done? 13 I realized that wisdom has an advantage over folly, just as light has an advantage over darkness. 14 {The wise man can see where he is walking}, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that both of them suffer the same fate.
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 7:11-12
Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance; {it benefits the living}.
Psalm 119:105
Your word [is] a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:130
The unfolding of your words gives light, giving understanding to [the] simple.
Proverbs 4:5-7
Get wisdom and insight; do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.
Proverbs 4:18-19
But the path of the righteous ones [is] like the light of dawn, leading and shining until the day {is full}.
Proverbs 16:16
Getting wisdom: {how much} better than gold! And getting understanding: it is chosen {over} silver.
Ecclesiastes 7:19
Wisdom gives more strength to the wise than ten rulers who are in the city.
Ecclesiastes 9:16
So I concluded that wisdom [is] better than might, yet the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.
Ecclesiastes 9:18
Wisdom [is] better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
Ecclesiastes 11:7
The light is sweet, and it [is] pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
Malachi 3:18-2
You will return and see [the difference] between [the] righteous and [the] wicked, between [the one who] serves God and the one who does not serve him.
Matthew 6:23
But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. Therefore if the light in you is darkness, how great [is] the darkness!
Luke 11:34-35
Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is sincere, your whole body is full of light also. But when it is evil, your body [is] dark also.
Ephesians 5:8
for you were formerly darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Live like children of light