Ecclesiastes 2:14

Translations

Modern

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.

Traditional

The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

Literal

The wise one, his eyes are in his head, and the fool is walking in the darkness. And I also knew of that event—the one that happens to all of them.

Latin

Sapientis oculi in capite ejus; stultus in tenebris ambulat: et didici quod unus utriusque esset interitus.

Original

Hebrew

English

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.

Notes

Ecclesiastes 2:13–14

wisdom exceeds folly: Wisdom is useful because it helps navigate life successfully. However, it cannot prevent death or give life meaning (Ecclesiastes 2:15–16).

Ecclesiastes 2:12–23

The Teacher now examines the value of wisdom (Ecclesiastes 2:12–17) and hard work (2:18–23). These, too, are futile (Ecclesiastes 2:17).

Ecclesiastes 1:12–2:26

The Teacher examines how wisdom, work, and pleasure relate to each other.

Theme notes and profiles

Wisdom

Related verses

Psalm 49:10
For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
Proverbs 17:24
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
Ecclesiastes 9:11
I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.
1 John 2:11
But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Ecclesiastes 9:1–3
So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.
Ecclesiastes 3:19
For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.
Ecclesiastes 9:16
And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
Ecclesiastes 10:2–3
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
Ecclesiastes 7:2
It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.
Psalm 19:10
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
Ecclesiastes 8:1
Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.

Glossary

Book of Ecclesiastes Futility

Topics

Death: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Fools: Walk in Darkness Man: Mortal Wisdom: Worldly

Ecclesiastes 2:14

Translations?

Original?

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Related verses?

Glossary?

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