传道书 2:12
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.
Context
This verse from 传道书 Chapter 2 connects to 4 cross-references. 第二至第四灾：青蛙之灾（法老后悔但再次心硬）、虱子之灾（术士无法仿效）、蝇虫之灾（但歌珊地得保护）。神在以色列人和埃及人之间作了区别。
其他译本
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for whatcanthe mandothat cometh after the king? even that which hath been done long ago.
And I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what <FI>is<Fi> the man who cometh after the king? that which <FI>is<Fi> already--they have done it!
And I went again in search of wisdom and of foolish ways. What may the man do who comes after the king? The thing which he has done before.
交叉参考
I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and …
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is …
Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, …
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall …