Modern Translations New International VersionThen 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? New Living Translation So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?). English Standard Version So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. Berean Study Bible Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished? New American Standard Bible So I turned to consider wisdom, insanity, and foolishness; for what will the man do who will come after the king, except what has already been done? NASB 1995 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? NASB 1977 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? Amplified Bible 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. Christian Standard Bible Then I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly, for what will the king’s successor be like? He will do what has already been done. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly, for what will the man be like who comes after the king? He will do what has already been done. Contemporary English Version I asked myself, "What can the next king do that I haven't done?" Then I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and stupidity. Good News Translation After all, a king can only do what previous kings have done. So I started thinking about what it meant to be wise or reckless or foolish. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then I turned [my attention] to experience wisdom, madness, and foolishness. For instance, what can the man who replaces the king do? Only what has already been done. International Standard Version Next I turned to examine wisdom, insanity, and foolishness, because what can a person do who succeeds the king except what has already been accomplished? NET Bible Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done? Classic Translations King James BibleAnd 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. New King James Version 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. King James 2000 Bible And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can a man do that comes after the king? even that which has been already done. New Heart English Bible I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can the man who comes after the king do? Just that which he has already done. World English Bible I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago. American King James Version And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that comes after the king? even that which has been already done. American Standard Version 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. A Faithful Version And I turned to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly; for what can the man do who comes after the king? Only that which has already been done. Darby Bible Translation And 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. English Revised Version 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. Webster's Bible Translation 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. Early Modern Geneva Bible of 1587And I turned to beholde wisedome, and madnes and follie: (for who is the man that will come after the King in things, which men nowe haue done?) Bishops' Bible of 1568 Then turned I me to consider wisdome, errour, and foolishnesse (for what is he among men that myght be compared to me the kyng in such workes?) Coverdale Bible of 1535 Then turned I me to considre wysdome, erroure and foolishnesse (for what is he amonge men, that might be compared to me ye kynge in soch workes?) Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what [is] the man who comes after the king? That which [is] already—they have done it! Young's Literal Translation And I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what is the man who cometh after the king? that which is already -- they have done it! Smith's Literal Translation And I turned to see wisdom, madness, and folly: for what the man that shall come after the king? with those things they did already. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I, that he can follow the King his maker?) Catholic Public Domain Version 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?” Translations from Aramaic Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd I gazed to see wisdom and vice and folly, for who is the man that shall enter after the King into judgment, and then with him who made him? Lamsa Bible So I looked around to behold wisdom and transgression and folly; for who is the man who can enter into judgment with the king? Especially with him who had created him. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And 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. Brenton Septuagint Translation Then I looked on to see wisdom, and madness, and folly: for who is the man who will follow after counsel, in all things where in he employs it?     |