Ecclesiastes 2:16

For there is no remembrance of the wise man more than of the fool for ever; for in the days to come shall all have long been forgotten; and, alas! the wise man dieth, as well as the fool.

Noyes Bible

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 said in my heart, “As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth to me. Why, then, became I wiser than others?” Then I said in my heart, “This also is vanity.”

17Therefore I hated life, because what is done under the sun appeared evil to me. For all is vanity, and striving after wind.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Cross References

Psalms 49:10For he seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, And leave their wealth to others.

Psalms 103:16The wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And its place shall know it no more.

Ecclesiastes 1:11There is no remembrance of former things, and of things that are to come there shall be no remembrance to those who live afterwards.

Ecclesiastes 6:8For what advantage hath the wise man over the fool? What advantage hath the poor, who knoweth how to walk before the living?

Malachi 3:16Then they that feared Jehovah spake to one another, And Jehovah gave ear and heard; And a book of remembrance was written before him, For them that feared Jehovah, And that 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