Ecclesiastes 2:16
What does Ecclesiastes 2:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Ecclesiastes 2:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For 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!
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For 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!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Of 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!
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862That there is no remembrance to the wise--with the fool--to the age, for that which <FI>is<Fi> already, <FI>in<Fi> the days that are coming is all forgotten, and how dieth the wise? with the fool!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For there shall be no remembrance of the wise no more than of the fool forever, and the times to come shall cover all things together with oblivion: the learned dieth in like manner as the unlearned.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For 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?
Context
v.15Then 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.
v.16This passage
v.17So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ecclesiastes 9:5
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
- Ecclesiastes 2:14
The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all.
- Exodus 1:8
Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.
- Ecclesiastes 1:11
There is no remembrance of the former generations; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter generations that are to come, among those that shall come after.
- Psalms 103:16
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more.
- Exodus 1:6
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
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