Ecclesiastes 2:9

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.