Ecclesiastes2:13 - Bible Gateway

Ecclesiastes 2:13

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 [even secular] wisdom [that brings sorrow] is better than [the pleasures of] folly and self-indulgence as light excels darkness.

AMPC

Then I saw that even [human] wisdom [that brings sorrow] is better than [the pleasures of] folly as far as light is better than darkness.

BRG

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

CSB

And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness.

CEB

I saw that wisdom is more beneficial than folly, as light is more beneficial than darkness.

CJB

I saw that wisdom is more useful than foolishness, just as light is more useful than darkness.

CEV

And I discovered that wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.

DARBY

And I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as light excelleth darkness.

DRA

And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth from darkness.

ERV

I saw that wisdom is better than foolishness in the same way that light is better than darkness.

EASY

I realized that it is better to be wise than foolish. In the same way, the light is better than the dark.

EHV

I saw wisdom is better than stupidity, as light is better than darkness.

ESV

Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.

ESVUK

Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.

EXB

I saw that ·being wise is certainly better than being foolish [^Lthere was more profit in wisdom than folly], just as light is ·better [more profitable] than darkness.

GNV

Then I saw that there is profit in wisdom more than in folly: as the light is more excellent than darkness.

But I saw that wisdom has an advantage over foolishness as light has an advantage over darkness.

GNT

Oh, I know, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.

HCSB

And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness.

ICB

I saw that being wise is certainly better than being foolish, just as light is better than darkness.

ISV

I concluded that wisdom is more useful than foolishness, just as light is more useful than darkness.

JUB

And I have seen that wisdom excels folly as far as light excels darkness.

KJV

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

AKJV

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

LSB

And I saw that there is an advantage in wisdom over simpleminded folly as light has an advantage over darkness.

LEB

I realized that wisdom has an advantage over folly, just as light has an advantage over darkness.

TLB

that wisdom is of more value than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness; for the wise man sees, while the fool is blind. And yet I noticed that there was one thing that happened to wise and foolish alike—

MSG

And then I took a hard look at what’s smart and what’s stupid. What’s left to do after you’ve been king? That’s a hard act to follow. You just do what you can, and that’s it. But I did see that it’s better to be smart than stupid, just as light is better than darkness. Even so, though the smart ones see where they’re going and the stupid ones grope in the dark, they’re all the same in the end. One fate for all—and that’s it.

MEV

Then I saw that there is more benefit in wisdom than in foolishness, more benefit in light than in darkness.

NOG

But I saw that wisdom has an advantage over foolishness as light has an advantage over darkness.

NABRE

And I saw that wisdom has as much profit over folly as light has over darkness.

NASB

Then I saw that wisdom surpasses foolishness as light surpasses darkness.

NASB1995

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

NCB

I also came to understand that more is to be gained from wisdom than from folly, just as light is more profitable than darkness.

NCV

I saw that being wise is certainly better than being foolish, just as light is better than darkness.

NET

I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:

NIRV

I saw that wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.

NIV

I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.

NIVUK

I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.

NKJV

Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness.

NLV

And I saw that wisdom is better than what is foolish, as light is better than darkness.

NLT

I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.

NRSVA