Ecclesiastes 2:16

Nobody remembers the wise or the fool for very long—in the future everything will be forgotten. Whether wise or foolish, they both die.

Free Bible 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 I thought to myself, “If I'm going to end up the same as a fool, what's the point of being so wise?” So I thought to myself, “This is also hard to understand!”

17So I ended up feeling disgusted with life because everything that happens here on earth is so distressing. It's so incomprehensible, like trying to control the wind.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Cross References

Exodus 1:8Then a new king came to power who didn't know anything about Joseph.

Psalms 49:10Everyone knows that the wise die, those who are foolish and stupid too, leaving what they have to the next generation.

Psalms 103:16but then the wind blows and we are gone, disappearing without a trace.

Ecclesiastes 1:11The problem is we don't remember people from the past, and people in the future won't remember those who came before them.

Ecclesiastes 6:8So then, what real advantage do wise people have over those who are fools? And do poor people really gain anything in knowing how to behave in front of others?

Malachi 3:16Then those who truly respected the Lord spoke to each other, and the Lord heard what they said. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence of those who respected the Lord and paid attention to him.

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