Ecclesiastes 2 · Verse 15

Ecclesiastes 2:15

Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:15, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 2:15 in other translations

BSBSo I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.
WEBThen I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
ASVThen said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.
YLTand I said in my heart, ‘As it happeneth with the fool, it happeneth also with me, and why am I then more wise?' And I spake in my heart, that also this is vanity:
DARBYAnd I said in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool so will it happen even to me; and why was I then so wise? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
BBEThen said I in my heart: As it comes to the foolish man, so will it come to me; so why have I been wise overmuch? Then I said in my heart: This again is to no purpose.
WebsterThen said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

What does Ecclesiastes 2:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. why was I--so anxious to become, &c. (2Ch 1:10). Then--Since such is the case. this--namely, pursuit of (worldly) wisdom; it can never fill the place of the true wisdom (Job 28:28; Jr 8:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 As it happeneth to the fool - Literally, "According as the event is to the fool, it happens to me, even me." There is a peculiar beauty and emphasis in the repetition of me. Having pointed out the advantages that wisdom has over folly, he takes this opportunity of reminding us of the danger of trusting too much to it, by showing that it is equally subject to the common accidents of life; and, therefore, incapable of making us completely happy. Having given his sentiments on this point in general terms, he proceeds to those particular instances wherein human prudence chiefly exerts itself; and shows how egregiously it is mistaken in every one of them - C.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:12-17

Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a stranger to Christ Jesus, will perish equally with the most ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the body in the grave, or the soul in hell? And the spirits of just men made perfect cannot want them. So that if this were…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 →

Ecclesiastes 2:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽיve.'a.Mar.tiand I saidH559
אֲנִ֜י'a.NiIH589
בְּלִבִּ֗יbe.li.Biin heart myH3820
כְּמִקְרֵ֤הke.mik.Rehlike [the] fate ofH4745
הַכְּסִיל֙ha.ke.Silthe foolH3684
גַּם\־gam-alsoH1571
אֲנִ֣י'a.NimeH589
יִקְרֵ֔נִיyik.Re.niit will happen to meH7136
וְלָ֧מָּהve.La.mahand <to> why?H4100
חָכַ֛מְתִּיcha.Kham.tihave I become wiseH2449
אֲנִ֖י'a.NiIH589
אָ֣ז'azthenH227
יוֹתֵ֑רyo.TerexcessivelyH3148
וְדִבַּ֣רְתִּיve.di.Bar.tiand I saidH1696
בְלִבִּ֔יve.li.Biin heart myH3820
שֶׁגַּם\־she.gam-that alsoH1571
זֶ֖הzehthisH2088
הָֽבֶל\׃Ha.vel[is] futilityH1892

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 2:15

  • Ecclesiastes 6:8

    For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

  • Ecclesiastes 1:14

    I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:18-2:1

    For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

  • 1 Kings 3:12

    Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:16

    I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:2

    Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:16

    For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
even to me. Heb. to me, even to me. and why.
1:16,18; 1Ki 3:12
Then I.
1; 1:2,14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 2:14

    The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:15

    Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:16

    For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Ecclesiastes 2:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces dije yo en mi corazón: Como sucederá al necio me sucederá también á mí: ¿para qué pues he trabajado hasta ahora por hacerme más sabio? Y dije en mi corazón, que también esto era vanidad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et j’ai dit en mon cœur: Le sort du fou m’atteint, moi aussi; et pourquoi alors ai-je été si sage? Et j’ai dit en mon cœur que cela aussi est vanité.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und ich sprach in meinem Herzen: Gleich dem Geschick des Toren wird auch mir widerfahren, und wozu bin ich dann überaus weise gewesen? Und ich sprach in meinem Herzen, daß auch das Eitelkeit sei.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et dixi in corde meo: Si unus et stulti et meus occasus erit, quid mihi prodest quod majorem sapientiæ dedi operam? Locutusque cum mente mea, animadverti quod hoc quoque esset vanitas.