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Ecclesiastes 2:15

Death and lossDiscouragement and depressionWisdom

13 And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:

14 The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.

So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.

16 For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!

17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.
KJV
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
WEB
Then I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
ASV
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.
DARBY
And I said in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool so will it happen even to me; and why was I then so wise? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
BLB
And I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, it will also happen to me. Then what [is] profit to me [in] being wise?” And I said in my heart, “This also [is] vapor.”
ÅB
Da sa jeg i mitt hjerte: Som det går dåren, så vil det også gå meg; hva skulle det da være til at jeg var så vis? Og jeg sa i mitt kjerte at også dette var tomhet.
OTB
Da sa jeg til meg selv: «Dårens skjebne vil også ramme meg. Hva er da fordelen med å være vis?» Jeg sa til meg selv: «Også dette er meningsløst.»
B1930
Da sa jeg i mitt hjerte: Som det går dåren, så vil det også gå mig; hvad skulde det da være til at jeg var så vis? Og jeg sa i mitt kjerte at også dette var tomhet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 6:8

    What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 1:14

    I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 1:18–2:1

    For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.

    Read in context

  • 1 Kings 3:12

    behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 1:16

    I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 1:2

    “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!”

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 2:16

    For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!

    Read in context