Ecclesiastes 2:15

KJV1611 – Modern English

So I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so it happens even to me. And why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart, "This also is vanity."

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    Then I said in my heart, 'What happens to the fool will also happen to me. So why have I been so very wise?' And I concluded in my heart, 'This too is meaningless.'

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    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.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    Then 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.

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    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.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Then thought I in my mynde: Yf it happen vnto the foole as it doth vnto me, what nedeth me then to laboure eny more for wy?dome? So I confessed within my harte, that this also was but vanite.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    Then I thought in mine heart, It befalleth vnto me, as it befalleth to ye foole. Why therefore doe I then labour to be more wise? And I sayd in mine heart, that this also is vanitie.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Then thought I in my mynde, yf it happen vnto the foole as it doth vnto me, what needeth me then to labour any more for wisdome? So I confessed within my heart that this also was but vanitie.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    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.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    Then said I in my heart, "As it happens 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.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    and 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:

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Then 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.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Then 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.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    Then 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.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    Then 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.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    So I thought to myself,“The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?” So I lamented to myself,“The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!”

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 6:8 : 8 For what has the wise more than the fool? what does the poor have, who knows to walk before the living?
  • 1 Kgs 3:12 : 12 Behold, I have done according to your words: lo, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like you before you, nor shall any arise like unto you.
  • Eccl 1:2 : 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
  • Eccl 1:14 : 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
  • Eccl 1:16 : 16 I communed with my own heart, saying, Look, I have attained great stature, and gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem: yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
  • Eccl 1:18-2:1 : 18 For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. 1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure." And behold, this also is vanity.
  • Eccl 2:16 : 16 For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, since what now is will all be forgotten in the days to come. And how does the wise man die? Just like the fool.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 2:9-14
    6 verses
    85%

    9So I became great and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also, my wisdom remained with me.

    10And whatever my eyes desired, I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor.

    11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor I had toiled to do; and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

    12I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

    13Then I saw that wisdom excels folly just as light excels darkness.

    14The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived that the same event happens to them all.

  • Eccl 2:16-22
    7 verses
    84%

    16For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, since what now is will all be forgotten in the days to come. And how does the wise man die? Just like the fool.

    17Therefore I hated life, because the work that was done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

    18Yes, I hated all my labor that I had labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

    19And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I have labored and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

    20Therefore I turned my heart to despair over all the labor which I had done under the sun.

    21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill. Yet he must leave his inheritance to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

    22For what has man from all his labor, and of the striving of his heart with which he has labored under the sun?

  • Eccl 1:16-18
    3 verses
    84%

    16I communed with my own heart, saying, Look, I have attained great stature, and gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem: yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

    17And I set my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after wind.

    18For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

  • Eccl 2:1-4
    4 verses
    83%

    1I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure." And behold, this also is vanity.

    2I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"

    3I searched in my heart to give myself to wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what is good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

    4I made great works; I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.

  • Eccl 1:13-14
    2 verses
    79%

    13And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this difficult task God has given to the children of man to be engaged with.

    14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

  • Eccl 6:8-9
    2 verses
    79%

    8For what has the wise more than the fool? what does the poor have, who knows to walk before the living?

    9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire: this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Eccl 7:25
    79%

    25I applied my heart to know, to search, and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even foolishness and madness.

  • Eccl 3:18-19
    2 verses
    79%

    18I said in my heart concerning the condition of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are like beasts.

    19For that which befalls the sons of men also befalls beasts; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other; yes, they all have one breath; so that a man has no advantage over a beast: for all is vanity.

  • Eccl 12:8
    78%

    8Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.

  • Eccl 1:2-3
    2 verses
    78%

    2Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

    3What profit does a man have from all his labor which he does under the sun?

  • Eccl 9:13
    77%

    13This wisdom I have seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me:

  • Eccl 8:14
    77%

    14There is a vanity which is done upon the earth: there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

  • Eccl 4:7
    77%

    7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    76%

    11Since there are many things that increase vanity, what advantage does man have?

    12For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

  • Eccl 10:3
    76%

    3Yes, also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    75%

    16When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the work that is done upon the earth (for there are those who neither day nor night see sleep with their eyes),

    17Then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. Even though a man labors to seek it out, he shall not find it; moreover, though a wise man thinks to know it, he shall not be able to find it.

  • Eccl 2:25
    75%

    25For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?

  • Eccl 9:3
    75%

    3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that, they go to the dead.

  • Eccl 8:9-10
    2 verses
    75%

    9All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man rules over another to his own harm.

    10Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had done so. This also is vanity.

  • Eccl 7:4
    75%

    4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of laughter.

  • Eccl 7:23
    75%

    23All this have I tested by wisdom. I said, 'I will be wise,' but it was far from me.

  • Eccl 7:15
    75%

    15All things have I seen in the days of my vanity; there is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.

  • Eccl 9:1
    74%

    1For all this I considered in my heart, even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God. No one knows either love or hatred by all that is before them.

  • Eccl 3:22
    74%

    22Therefore I perceive that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what shall be after him?

  • Eccl 4:4
    74%

    4Again, I considered all the toil and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Eccl 4:16
    73%

    16There is no end of all the people, even of all who have been before them; they also that come after will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Eccl 7:6
    73%

    6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool; this also is vanity.