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.
KJV
Parallel translations
4 additional translations▾
Parallel translations
4 additional translationsAnd I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for whatcanthe mandothat cometh after the king? even that which hath been done long ago.
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?
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!
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.
About this book
Old Testament▾
About this book
Old TestamentEcclesiastes — Qohelet the Preacher — ''vanity of vanities, all is vanity.'' The book's relentless examination of life under the sun, resolving not in despair but in ''fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.''
- Author
- Traditional: Solomon (''son of David, king in Jerusalem''). Critical: a later Qohelet figure writing in Solomonic persona. §7.9 surfaces; Pastor Marc's drawer carries the position.
- Date
- Solomonic reading: c. 940 BC. Critical reading: Persian or early Hellenistic period (5th–3rd century BC).