New English Translation
Ecclesiastes 2:16
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!
Ecclesiastes 2:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die!
- English Standard Version (ESV)For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool!
- New King James Version (NKJV)For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool!
Context of Ecclesiastes 2:16
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!” 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! 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. 18So 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.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 2Ecclesiastes 2:16 word by word
כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין זִכְר֧וֹן לֶחָכָ֛ם עִֽם־הַכְּסִ֖יל לְעוֹלָ֑ם בְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞ר הַיָּמִ֤ים הַבָּאִים֙ הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁכָּ֔ח וְאֵ֛יךְ יָמ֥וּת הֶחָכָ֖ם עִֽם־הַכְּסִֽיל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- no remembranceזִכָּרוֹןzikrôn · memorialH2146
- of the wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- more thanעִם‛im · withH5973
- of the foolכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684
- for everעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
- seeing that which nowכְּבָרkebâr · alreadyH3528
- in the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- to comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- shall all be forgottenשָׁכַחshâkach shâkêach · to forgetH7911
- And how diethמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 2:16
- Ecclesiastes 1:11No 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.
- Exodus 1:6and in time Joseph and his brothers and all that generation died.
- Psalms 88:12Are your amazing deeds experienced in the dark region, or your deliverance in the land of oblivion?
- Psalms 103:16but when the hot wind blows by, it disappears, and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.
- Malachi 3:16Then 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.
- Ecclesiastes 6:8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?
- 2 Samuel 3:33The king chanted the following lament for Abner: “Should Abner have died like a fool?
- Psalms 49:10Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.
- Hebrews 9:27And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16There is no remembrance - The wise and the fool are equally subject to death; and, in most instances, they are equally forgotten. Time sweeps away all remembrances, except the very few out of millions which are preserved for a while in the page of history.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferable to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a stranger to Christ Jesus, will perish equally with the most ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the body in the grave, or the soul in hell? And the spirits of just men made perfect cannot want them. So that if this were all, we might be led to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?: Since the lives of both are short, the conclusion is that everything is meaningless. both will be forgotten: Future generations will not remember us or our achievements, so our efforts will amount to nothing (compare Ecclesiastes 1:11; 9:13–16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. remembrance--a great aim of the worldly (Ge 11:4). The righteous alone attain it (Psa 112:6; Pr 10:7). for ever--no perpetual memorial. that which now is--Maurer, "In the days to come all things shall be now long ago forgotten."Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 2:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
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