Ecclesiastes 2:16
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.
Additional Resources
Other Translations
Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts
For the wise, like the fool, will not be remembered forever; in the days to come, everything will be forgotten. How does the wise person die? Just like the fool!
King James Version 1769 (Standard 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.
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
For of the wise{H2450} man, even as{H5973} of the fool,{H3684} there is no remembrance{H2146} for ever;{H5769} seeing{H3528} that in the days{H3117} to come{H935} all will have been long forgotten.{H7911} And how doth the wise{H2450} man die{H4191} even as the fool!{H3684}
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
For there is no remembrance{H2146} of the wise{H2450} more than{H5973} of the fool{H3684} for ever{H5769}; seeing that which now{H3528} is in the days{H3117} to come{H935}{(H8802)} shall all be forgotten{H7911}{(H8738)}. And how dieth{H4191}{(H8799)} the wise{H2450} man? as the fool{H3684}.
Coverdale Bible (1535)
For the wyse are euer as litle in remembraunce as the foolish, and all the dayes for to come shalbe forgotten, yee the wyse man dyeth as well as ye foole.
Geneva Bible (1560)
For there shalbe no remembrance of the wise, nor of the foole for euer: for that that now is, in the dayes to come shall all be forgotten; howe dyeth the wise man, as doeth the foole?
Bishops' Bible (1568)
For the wise are euer as litle in remembraunce as the foolishe: for the dayes shall come when all shalbe forgotten: yea the wise man dyeth as well as the foole.
Authorized King James Version (1611)
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.
Webster's Bible (1833)
For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
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!
American Standard Version (1901)
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!
American Standard Version (1901)
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!
Bible in Basic English (1941)
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!
World English Bible (2000)
For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies– just like the fool!
Referenced Verses
- Eccl 1:11 : 11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those who will come after.
- Eccl 9:5 : 5 For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing, nor have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
- Ps 88:12 : 12 Shall your wonders be known in the dark, and your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
- Ps 103:16 : 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and its place remembers it no more.
- Eccl 2:14 : 14 The 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 6:8 : 8 For what has the wise more than the fool? what does the poor have, who knows to walk before the living?
- Exod 1:6 : 6 And Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation.
- Exod 1:8 : 8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
- 2 Sam 3:33 : 33 And the king lamented over Abner and said, Did Abner die as a fool dies?
- Ps 49:10 : 10 For he sees that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
- Mal 3:16 : 16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the LORD and thought upon his name.
- Heb 9:27 : 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Eccl 2:11-155 verses84%
11 Then 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.
12 I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.
13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly just as light excels darkness.
14 The 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.
15 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."
- Eccl 2:17-226 verses81%
17 Therefore I hated life, because the work that was done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
18 Yes, 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.
19 And 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.
20 Therefore I turned my heart to despair over all the labor which I had done under the sun.
21 For 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.
22 For what has man from all his labor, and of the striving of his heart with which he has labored under the sun?
- 81%
8 For what has the wise more than the fool? what does the poor have, who knows to walk before the living?
- 81%
10 For he sees that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
- 79%
11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those who will come after.
- 78%
16 There 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.
- 77%
5 For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing, nor have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
- Eccl 8:16-172 verses76%
16 When 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),
17 Then 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.
- 76%
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
- Eccl 6:11-122 verses76%
11 Since there are many things that increase vanity, what advantage does man have?
12 For 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 3:19-202 verses75%
19 For 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.
20 All go to one place; all are of dust, and all turn to dust again.
- 75%
10 Then 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.
- 75%
8 Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.
- Eccl 1:17-182 verses74%
17 And I set my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
- 74%
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of laughter.
- Eccl 9:15-162 verses74%
15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no one remembered that same poor man.
16 Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength; nevertheless, the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
- Eccl 1:2-32 verses74%
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3 What profit does a man have from all his labor which he does under the sun?
- 74%
15 All 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.
- 73%
8 But if a man lives many years, and rejoices in them all, let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is vanity.
- 73%
6 Yes, even if he lives a thousand years twice over, yet has seen no good: do not all go to one place?
- Eccl 4:2-32 verses73%
2 Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
3 Yes, better is he than both, who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
- 73%
3 This 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.
- 73%
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no desire for it?
- 73%
1 For 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.
- 73%
7 For he does not know what shall be; for who can tell him when it shall be?
- 72%
3 Yes, 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.
- 72%
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool; this also is vanity.
- 72%
2 I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
- 72%
13 This wisdom I have seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me:
- 72%
10 Do not say, 'Why were the former days better than these?' for you do not inquire wisely concerning this.
- 72%
20 And again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
- 72%
16 And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
- 72%
22 Therefore 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?
- 71%
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.