Eclesiastés 2:15

15 Me dije entonces: «Si al fin voy a acabar igual que el necio, ¿de qué me sirve ser tan sabio?» Y concluí que también esto es absurdo,

Eclesiastés 2:15 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:15

Then said I in my heart, as it happeneth to the fool, so it
happeneth even to me
The wisest of kings, and the wisest of men; that is, he looked over things in his mind, and considered what had befallen him, or what were his present circumstances, or what would be his case, especially at death; and said within himself, the same things happen to me, who have attained to the highest pitch of wisdom, as to the most errant fool; and therefore no true happiness can be in this sort of wisdom. The Targum paraphrases it thus,

``as it happened to Saul the son of Kish, the king who turned aside perversely, and kept not the commandment he received concerning Amalek, and his kingdom was taken from him; so shall it happen to me;''

and why was I then more wise?
the Targum adds, than he, or than any other man, or even than a fool; why have I took so much pains to get wisdom? what am I the better for it? what happiness is there in it, seeing it gives me no advantage, preference, and excellency to a fool; or secures me from the events that befall me? Then I said in my heart, that this also [is] vanity;
this worldly wisdom has nothing solid and substantial in it, as well as pleasure; and it is a vain thing to seek happiness in it, since this is the case, that the events are the same to men that have it, as to one that has it not.

Eclesiastés 2:15 In-Context

13 y pude observar que hay más provecho en la sabiduría que en la insensatez, así como hay más provecho en la luz que en las tinieblas.

14 El sabio tiene los ojos bien puestos,pero el necio anda a oscuras.Pero también me di cuenta de que un mismo final les espera a todos.

15 Me dije entonces: «Si al fin voy a acabar igual que el necio, ¿de qué me sirve ser tan sabio?» Y concluí que también esto es absurdo,

16 pues nadie se acuerda jamás del sabio ni del necio; con el paso del tiempo todo cae en el olvido, y lo mismo mueren los sabios que los necios.

17 Aborrecí entonces la vida, pues todo cuanto se hace en ella me resultaba repugnante. Realmente, todo es absurdo; ¡es correr tras el viento!