Ecclesiastes 2:12

New International Version

Wisdom and Folly Are Meaningless

¹²Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom,
and also madness and folly.^(A)
What more can the king’s successor do
than what has already been done?^(B)

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Ecclesiastes 2:12 in all English translations

Ecclesiastes 2:15

New International Version

¹⁵Then I said to myself,

“The fate of the fool will overtake me also.
What then do I gain by being wise?”^(A)
I said to myself,
“This too is meaningless.”

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Ecclesiastes 2:15 in all English translations

Ecclesiastes 4:8

New International Version

⁸There was a man all alone;
    he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
    yet his eyes were not content^(A) with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
    “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
    a miserable business!

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Ecclesiastes 4:8 in all English translations

1 Samuel 13:12

New International Version

¹²I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal,^(A) and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.^(B)’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

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1 Samuel 13:12 in all English translations

Luke 12:17-18

New International Version

¹⁷He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

¹⁸“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.

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Luke 15:17-19

New International Version

¹⁷“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned^(A) against heaven and against you. ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

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