Ecclesiastes 2:9

NETBible

So 1  I was far wealthier 2  than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity: 3 

NIV ©

I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

NASB ©

Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.

NLT ©

So I became greater than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. And with it all, I remained clear–eyed so that I could evaluate all these things.

MSG ©

Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What's more, I kept a clear head through it all.

BBE ©

And I became great; increasing more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom was still with me.

NRSV ©

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me.

NKJV ©

So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

KJV
So I was great
<01431> (8804)_,
and increased
<03254> (8689)
more than all that were before
<06440>
me in Jerusalem
<03389>_:
also my wisdom
<02451>
remained
<05975> (8804)
with me.
NASB ©
Then I became
<1431>
great
<1431>
and increased
<3254>
more
<4480>
than
<4480>
all
<3605>
who
<7945>
preceded
<6440>
me in Jerusalem
<3389>
. My wisdom
<2451>
also
<637>
stood
<5975>
by me.
LXXM
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
emegalunyhn
<3170> 
V-API-1S
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
proseyhka
<4369> 
V-AAI-1S
para
<3844> 
PREP
pantav
<3956> 
A-APM
touv
<3588> 
T-APM
genomenouv
<1096> 
V-AMPAP
emprosyen
<1715> 
PREP
mou
<1473> 
P-GS
en
<1722> 
PREP
ierousalhm
<2419> 
N-PRI
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
ge
<1065> 
PRT
sofia
<4678> 
N-NSF
mou
<1473> 
P-GS
estayh
<2476> 
V-API-3S
moi
<1473> 
P-DS
NET [draft] ITL
So I was far
<03254>
wealthier
<01431>
than all
<03605>
my predecessors
<06440>
in Jerusalem
<03389>
, yet
<0637>
I maintained
<05975>
my objectivity
<02451>
:
HEBREW
yl
<0>
hdme
<05975>
ytmkx
<02451>
Pa
<0637>
Mlswryb
<03389>
ynpl
<06440>
hyhs
<01961>
lkm
<03605>
ytpowhw
<03254>
ytldgw (2:9)
<01431>
NETBible

So 1  I was far wealthier 2  than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity: 3 

NET Notes

1 tn The vav prefixed to וְגָדַלְתִּי (vÿgadalti, vav + Qal perfect first common singular from גָּדַל, gadal, “to be great; to increase”) functions in a final summarizing sense, that is, it introduces the concluding summary of 2:4-9.

2 tn Heb “I became great and I surpassed” (וְהוֹסַפְתִּי וְגָדַלְתִּי, vÿgadalti vÿhosafti). This is a verbal hendiadys in which the second verb functions adverbially, modifying the first: “I became far greater.” Most translations miss the hendiadys and render the line in a woodenly literal sense (KJV, ASV, RSV, NEB, NRSV, NAB, NASB, MLB, Moffatt), while only a few recognize the presence of hendiadys here: “I became greater by far” (NIV) and “I gained more” (NJPS).

3 tn Heb “yet my wisdom stood for me,” meaning he retained his wise perspective despite his great wealth.