Ecclesiastes 2:16
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!
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Referenced Verses
- Eccl 1:11 : 11 No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the events that are yet to happen; they will not be remembered by the future generations.
- Eccl 9:5 : 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward– and even the memory of them disappears.
- Ps 88:12 : 12 Are your amazing deeds experienced in the dark region, or your deliverance in the land of oblivion?
- Ps 103:16 : 16 but when the hot wind blows by, it disappears, and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.
- Eccl 2:14 : 14 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.
- Eccl 6:8 : 8 So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?
- Exod 1:6 : 6 and in time Joseph and his brothers and all that generation died.
- Exod 1:8 : 8 Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power over Egypt.
- 2 Sam 3:33 : 33 The king chanted the following lament for Abner:“Should Abner have died like a fool?
- 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.
- Mal 3:16 : 16 Then those who respected the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD took notice. A scroll was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the LORD and honored his name.
- Heb 9:27 : 27 And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face 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%
11Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded:“All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless– like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”
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:
14The 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.
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!”
- Eccl 2:17-226 verses81%
17So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile– like chasing the wind.
18Futility of Being a Workaholic So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.
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!
20So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.
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!
22Painful Days and Restless Nights What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?
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8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?
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10Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.
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11No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the events that are yet to happen; they will not be remembered by the future generations.
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16There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.
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5For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward– and even the memory of them disappears.
- Eccl 8:16-172 verses76%
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.
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14yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?
- Eccl 6:11-122 verses76%
11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?
12For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.
- Eccl 3:19-202 verses75%
19For 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.
20Both go to the same place, both come from the dust, and to dust both return.
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10Contradictions to the Law of Retribution Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple, and as they left the holy temple, they boasted in the city that they had done so. This also is an enigma.
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8Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher,“All of these things are futile!”
- Eccl 1:17-182 verses74%
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.
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4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.
- Eccl 9:15-162 verses74%
15However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.
16So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.
- Eccl 1:2-32 verses74%
2Introduction: Utter Futility“Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher,“Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”
3Futility Illustrated from Nature What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?
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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.
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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.
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6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!
- Eccl 4:2-32 verses73%
2So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.
3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.
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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.
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16What’s the point of a fool having money in hand to buy wisdom, when his head is empty?
- 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.
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7Surely no one knows the future, and no one can tell another person what will happen.
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3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.
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6For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless.
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2I said of partying,“It is folly,” and of self-indulgent pleasure,“It accomplishes nothing!”
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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:
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10Do not say,“Why were the old days better than these days?” for it is not wise to ask that.
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20And again,“The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
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16This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?
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22So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?
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12You have seen a man wise in his own opinion– there is more hope for a fool than for him.