Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Wisdom excels folly as far and as plainly as light excels darkness. Solomon reached this contrast after turning away from communion with God to sensual pleasures and earthly achievements, including wealth. Looking back on his pursuits of pleasure, wealth, and accomplishments, he set himself to examine wisdom and madness and folly.
Even while acknowledging the superiority of wisdom, his own course proved that earthly labor and pleasure and a life of self-indulgence cannot give lasting satisfaction. That recognition did not make his self-indulgence satisfying. He concluded that his labor was vanity and that he hated life.
Wisdom excels folly as far and as plainly as light excels darkness. Solomon reached this contrast after turning away from communion with God to sensual pleasures and earthly achievements, including wealth. Looking back on his pursuits of pleasure, wealth, and accomplishments, he set himself to examine wisdom and madness and folly.
Even while acknowledging the superiority of wisdom, his own course proved that earthly labor and pleasure and a life of self-indulgence cannot give lasting satisfaction. That recognition did not make his self-indulgence satisfying. He concluded that his labor was vanity and that he hated life.