Eclesiastés 2:15

15 Entonces dije yo en mi corazón: Como sucederá al loco me sucederá también a mí. ¿Para qué pues he trabajado hasta ahora por hacerme más sabio? Y dije en mi corazón, que también esto era vanidad.

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 he visto que la sabiduría sobrepasa a la locura, como la luz a las tinieblas.

14 El sabio tiene sus ojos en su cabeza, mas el loco anda en tinieblas. Y también entendí yo que un mismo suceso acaecerá al uno que al otro.

15 Entonces dije yo en mi corazón: Como sucederá al loco me sucederá también a mí. ¿Para qué pues he trabajado hasta ahora por hacerme más sabio? Y dije en mi corazón, que también esto era vanidad.

16 Porque ni del sabio ni del loco habrá memoria para siempre; pues en los días venideros ya todo será olvidado, y también morirá el sabio como el loco.

17 Aborrecí por tanto la vida, porque toda obra que se hace debajo del sol me era fastidiosa; por cuanto todo era vanidad y aflicción de espíritu.