Ecclesiastes 2:13 nasb — And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.

NASB

"And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness."

— Ecclesiastes 2:13, NASB

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Ecclesiastes 2:13 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 2 — Context

10

All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor.

11

Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

12

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?

13

And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.

14

The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both.

15

Then I said to myself, "As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?" So I said to myself, "This too is vanity."

16

For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die!

Ecclesiastes 2:13 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 2:13 say?
Ecclesiastes 2:13 in the NASB reads: “And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 2:13 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 2:13 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 2, verse 13.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 2:13.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 2:13 in?
Ecclesiastes 2:13 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 2:13?
Ecclesiastes 2:13 reads (NASB): “And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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