Ecclesiastes 2:14

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 17:24 : 24 Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.
  • Ps 49:10 : 10 Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.
  • 1 John 2:11 : 11 But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
  • Eccl 3:19 : 19 For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.
  • Eccl 9:1-3 : 1 Everyone Will Die So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead. 2 Everyone shares the same fate– the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the ceremonially clean and unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. What happens to the good person, also happens to the sinner; what happens to those who make vows, also happens to those who are afraid to make vows. 3 This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives– then they die.
  • Eccl 9:11 : 11 Wisdom Cannot Protect against Seemingly Chance Events Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge– for time and chance may overcome them all.
  • Eccl 9:16 : 16 So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.
  • Eccl 10:2-3 : 2 Wisdom Can Be Nullified By the Caprice of Rulers A wise person’s good sense protects him, but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. 3 Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.
  • Eccl 6:6 : 6 if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!
  • Eccl 7:2 : 2 It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.
  • Eccl 8:1 : 1 Human Government Demonstrates Limitations of Wisdom Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.
  • Ps 19:10 : 10 They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.
  • Prov 14:8 : 8 The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 2:12-13
    2 verses
    86%

    12Wisdom is Better than Folly Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?

    13I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:

  • Eccl 2:15-16
    2 verses
    85%

    15So 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!”

    16For 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!

  • Prov 17:24
    80%

    24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

  • Eccl 6:8-9
    2 verses
    79%

    8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

    9It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile– like chasing the wind.

  • Prov 14:8
    78%

    8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

  • Eccl 10:2-3
    2 verses
    78%

    2Wisdom Can Be Nullified By the Caprice of Rulers A wise person’s good sense protects him, but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.

    3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.

  • Eccl 2:19
    77%

    19Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!

  • Prov 15:21
    76%

    21Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, but one who has understanding follows an upright course.

  • Eccl 1:16-18
    3 verses
    76%

    16Futility of Secular Wisdom I thought to myself,“I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.”

    17So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

    18For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.

  • Eccl 7:4
    76%

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

  • Prov 13:16
    76%

    16Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

  • Prov 14:33
    76%

    33Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; it is not known in the inner parts of fools.

  • Prov 12:15
    76%

    15The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.

  • Eccl 9:13
    76%

    13Most People Are Not Receptive to Wise Counsel This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    76%

    16Limitations of Human Wisdom When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth– even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night–

    17then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.

  • Prov 14:24
    75%

    24The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is folly.

  • Ps 49:10
    75%

    10Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.

  • Eccl 7:25
    74%

    25True Righteousness and Wisdom Are Virtually Nonexistent I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.

  • Eccl 2:3
    74%

    3I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine(all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

  • Eccl 9:3
    74%

    3This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives– then they die.

  • Prov 29:11
    73%

    11A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

  • Prov 14:16
    73%

    16A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.

  • Eccl 9:1
    73%

    1Everyone Will Die So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead.

  • Eccl 10:14-15
    2 verses
    73%

    14yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?

    15The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.

  • Eccl 11:8
    73%

    8So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many– all that is about to come is obscure.

  • Eccl 1:13-14
    2 verses
    73%

    13I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.

    14I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!

  • Prov 26:12
    73%

    12You have seen a man wise in his own opinion– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

  • Prov 27:12
    73%

    12A shrewd person saw danger–he hid himself; the naive passed right on by– they had to pay for it.

  • Prov 18:2
    73%

    2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.

  • Eccl 8:14
    73%

    14Here is another enigma that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said,“This also is an enigma.”

  • Eccl 7:15
    73%

    15Exceptions to the Law of Retribution During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

  • Prov 10:23
    72%

    23Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.

  • Eccl 3:18
    72%

    18I also thought to myself,“It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.

  • Eccl 8:1
    72%

    1Human Government Demonstrates Limitations of Wisdom Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.

  • Prov 10:9
    72%

    9The one who conducts himself in integrity will live securely, but the one who behaves perversely will be found out.

  • Eccl 9:16-17
    2 verses
    72%

    16So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.

    17Wisdom versus Fools, Sin, and Folly The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among fools.

  • Eccl 2:21
    72%

    21For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

  • Prov 28:11
    72%

    11A rich person is wise in his own opinion, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.

  • Prov 22:3
    72%

    3A shrewd person saw danger and hid himself, but the naive passed on by and paid for it.

  • Prov 13:20
    72%

    20The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.