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.
Ecclesiastes 2:16 in other translations
| BSB | For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool! |
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| WEB | For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory forever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool! |
| ASV | For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool! |
| YLT | That there is no remembrance to the wise--with the fool--to the age, for that which is already, in the days that are coming is all forgotten, and how dieth the wise? with the fool! |
| DARBY | For there shall be no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; because everything is already forgotten in the days which come. And how dieth the wise even as the fool? |
| BBE | Of the wise man, as of the foolish man, there is no memory for ever, seeing that those who now are will have gone from memory in the days to come. See how death comes to the wise as to the foolish! |
| Webster | 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. |
What does Ecclesiastes 2:16 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Adam Clarke's Commentary
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…
Ecclesiastes 2:16 in the original Hebrew
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Cross references for Ecclesiastes 2:16
- Ecclesiastes 1:11
There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
- Ecclesiastes 9:5
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
- Malachi 3:16
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
- Exodus 1:8
Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
- Psalms 88:12
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
- Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
- Psalms 103:16
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
- 2 Samuel 3:33
And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
- Exodus 1:6
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
- Psalms 49:10
For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
- 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 6:8
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- 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.
- Ecclesiastes 2:17
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 2:16 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Porque ni del sabio ni del necio habrá memoria para siempre; pues en los días venideros ya todo será olvidado, y también morirá el sabio como el necio. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Car jamais on ne se souviendra du sage, non plus que du fou, puisque déjà dans les jours qui viennent tout est oublié. Et comment le sage meurt-il comme le fou? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Denn dem Weisen, gleichwie dem Toren, wird kein ewiges Andenken zuteil, weil in den kommenden Tagen alles längst vergessen sein wird. Und wie stirbt der Weise gleich dem Toren hin! |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Non enim erit memoria sapientis similiter ut stulti in perpetuum, et futura tempora oblivione cuncta pariter operient: moritur doctus similiter ut indoctus. |