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Ecclesiastes 2:11-13
International Children’s Bible
Ecclesiastes 2:11-13
International Children’s Bible
11 But then I looked at what I had done.
I thought about all the hard work.
Suddenly I realized it was just a waste of time, like chasing the wind!
There is nothing to gain from anything we do here on earth.
Maybe Wisdom Is the Answer
12 Then I began to think again about being wise.
And I thought also about being foolish and doing crazy things.
But after all, what more can any king do?
He can only do what some other king has already done.
13 I saw that being wise is certainly better than being foolish,
just as light is better than darkness.
Ecclesiastes 2:11-13
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 2:11-13
New International Version
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;(A)
nothing was gained under the sun.(B)
Wisdom and Folly Are Meaningless
Ecclesiastes 2:11-13
King James Version
Ecclesiastes 2:11-13
King James Version
11 Then 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.
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.
13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
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Ecclesiastes 2:11-13
New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 2:11-13
New King James Version
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was (A)vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.
The End of the Wise and the Fool
12 Then I turned myself to consider wisdom (B)and madness and folly;
For what can the man do who succeeds the king?—
Only what he has already (C)done.
13 Then I saw that wisdom (D)excels folly
As light excels darkness.
Ecclesiastes 2:11-13
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 2:11-13
English Standard Version
11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was (A)vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing (B)to be gained under the sun.
The Vanity of Living Wisely
12 (C)So I turned to consider (D)wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only (E)what has already been done. 13 Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.
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International Children’s Bible (ICB) 
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.