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Ecclesiastes 2:12 KJV
Ecclesiastes · chapter 2 · verse 12
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.Ecclesiastes 2:12 · King James Version
Ecclesiastes 2:12 in context
10And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
12And 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.
13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
14The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
Commentary
Key words (Strong's)
- madnesshôwlêlâhfollyH1947 →
- alreadykᵉbârproperly, extent of timeH3528 →
- turnedpânâhto turnH6437 →
- beholdrâʼâhto see, literally or figurativelyH7200 →
- wisdomchokmâhwisdomH2451 →
- comethbôwʼto go or comeH935 →
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Solomon having tried what satisfaction was to be had in learning first, and then in the pleasures of sense, and having also put both together, here compares them one with another and passes a judgment upon them. I. He sets himself to consider both wisdom and folly. He had considered these before (Ecc 1:17);
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on verses 12-16