ESV
KJV
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.
ASV
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 done long ago.
ERVEN
12. Then I decided to think about what it means to be wise or to be foolish or to do crazy things. And I thought about the one who will be the next king. The new king will do the same as the kings before him.
NLT
12. So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?).
WEB
12. I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
NET
12. Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done?
NLV
12. So I turned to think about wis-dom and what is crazy and foolish. For what can the man do who comes after the king, except what has already been done?
HCSB
12. Then I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly, for what will the man be like who comes after the king? He will do what has already been done.
YLT
12. 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!
LITV
12. And I turned to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly. For what can a man do who comes after the king, when they have already done it?
RV
12. And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness and folly; for what {cf15i can} the man {cf15i do} that cometh after the king? {cf15i even} that which hath been already done.
NCV
12. Then I began to think again about being wise, and also about being foolish and doing crazy things. But after all, what more can anyone do? He can't do more than what the other king has already done.
MKJV
12. And I turned to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly; for what can the man do who comes after the king, when they have already done it?
AKJV
12. And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that comes after the king? even that which has been already done.
LXXEN
12. Then I looked on to see wisdom, and madness, and folly: for who is the man who will follow after counsel, in all things where in he employs it?
KJV
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.
AMP
12. So I turned to consider [human] wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the man do who succeeds the king? Nothing but what has been done already.
KJVP
12. And I H589 PPRO-1MS turned H6437 myself to behold H7200 L-VQFC wisdom H2451 NFS , and madness H1947 , and folly H5531 : for H3588 CONJ what H4100 IPRO [ can ] the man H120 D-NMS [ do ] that cometh H7945 after H310 PREP the king H4428 D-NMS ? [ even ] that which H834 RPRO hath been already H3528 done H6213 .
YLT
12. 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!
ASV
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 done long ago.
WEB
12. I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
NASB
12. For what will the man do who is to come after the king? What men have already done! I went on to the consideration of wisdom, madness and folly.
ESV
12. So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.
RV
12. And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness and folly; for what {cf15i can} the man {cf15i do} that cometh after the king? {cf15i even} that which hath been already done.
RSV
12. So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what he has already done.
NKJV
12. Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what [can] the man [do] who succeeds the king? -- [Only] what he has already done.
MKJV
12. And I turned to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly; for what can the man do who comes after the king, when they have already done it?
AKJV
12. And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that comes after the king? even that which has been already done.
NRSV
12. So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the one do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.
NIV
12. Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king's successor do than what has already been done?
NIRV
12. I decided to think about wisdom. I also thought about foolish pleasure. What more can a new king do? Can he do anything more than others have already done?
NLT
12. So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?).
MSG
12. 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.
GNB
12. After all, a king can only do what previous kings have done. So I started thinking about what it meant to be wise or reckless or foolish.
NET
12. Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done?
ERVEN
12. Then I decided to think about what it means to be wise or to be foolish or to do crazy things. And I thought about the one who will be the next king. The new king will do the same as the kings before him.