Verse 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.

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.