Ecclesiastes 2:16
<< Ecclesiastes 2:16 >>
New International Version (©1984)
For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die!

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die!

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Neither the wise person nor the fool will be remembered for long, since both will be forgotten in the days to come. Both the wise person and the fool will die.

King James Bible
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 King James 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 dies the wise man? as the fool.

American Standard Version
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
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!

Douay-Rheims Bible
For there shall be no remembrance of the wise no more than of the fool for ever, and the times to come shall cover all things together with oblivion: the learned dieth in like manner as the unlearned.

Darby Bible Translation
For there shall be no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; because everything is already forgotten in the days which come. And how dieth the wise even as the fool?

English Revised Version
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 already forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
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!

Young's Literal Translation
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!

Geneva Study Bible

For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool {l} for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And {m} how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

(l) Meaning, in this world.

(m) He wonders that men forget a wise man, being dead, as soon as they do a fool.

Wesley's Notes

2:16 For - Their memory, though it may flourish for a season, yet will in a little time be worn out; as we see it, most of the wise men of former ages, whose very names, together with all their monuments, are utterly lost. As the fool - He must die as certainly as the fool.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16. remembrance-a great aim of the worldly (Ge 11:4). The righteous alone attain it (Ps 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."

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:12-17 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 hate our life, as it is all vanity and vexation of spirit.


Ecclesiastes 1:11 There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur, There will be for them no remembrance Among those who will come later still.
Ecclesiastes 2:14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. (NASB ©1995)

Ago Alike Already Death Die Dies Dieth Enduring Fool Forgotten Inasmuch Indeed Lasting Memory Remembered Remembrance Wise


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.

there is 1:11 Ex 1:6,8 Ps 88:12 103:16 Mal 3:16

how 6:8 2Sa 3:33 Ps 49:10 Heb 9:27

Bible Gateway: Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 Verse 16 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: alike all And as be both come coming days die fool For forgotten how in inasmuch is lasting like long man must no not of remembered remembrance the there to too will wise with

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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 2:16 For of the wise man even as (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

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