NET Bible
"I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:"
— Ecclesiastes 2:13, NET Bible
“Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.”
“Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. ”
“Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.”
“And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth from darkness.”
“Then I saw that wisdom is better than foolish ways--as the light is better than the dark.”
“Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.”
I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.
Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded:“All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless– like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”
Wisdom is Better than Folly 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?
I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:
The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.
So I thought to myself,“The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?” So I lamented to myself,“The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!”
For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies– just like the fool!