Ecclesiastes 2:16

For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance forever, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how the wise man dies even as the fool!

A Conservative Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

15Then said I in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so it will happen even to me, and why then was I more wise? Then said I in my heart that this also is vanity.

17So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous to me. For all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Cross References

Exodus 1:8Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

Psalms 49:10For he shall see it. Wise men die. The fool and the brutish alike perish, and leave their wealth to others.

Psalms 103:16For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more.

Ecclesiastes 1:11There is no remembrance of the former [things], nor shall there be any remembrance of the latter that are to come, among those who shall come after.

Ecclesiastes 6:8For what advantage has the wise man more than the fool? What has the poor man, who knows how to walk before the living?

Malachi 3:16Then those who feared LORD spoke one with another, and LORD hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for those who feared LORD, and who thought upon his name.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 2:13-17

Superiority of Wisdom to Folly. 12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. 13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. 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. 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… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 2:16