Ecclesiastes 2:15 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

and I said in my heart, `As it happeneth with the fool, it happeneth also with me, and why am I then more wise?` And I spake in my heart, that also this [is] vanity:

English 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.

English Amplified

Then said I in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so it will happen even to me. And of what use is it then for me to be more wise? Then I said in my heart, This also is vanity (emptiness, vainglory, and futility)!

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

Then said I in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so it will happen even to me. And of what use is it then for me to be more wise? Then I said in my heart, This also is vanity (emptiness, vainglory, and futility)!

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

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.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?” And I said to myself that this is also futile.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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.

English EASY 2024

Then I thought, ‘I will also die, as foolish people do. So what value have I received from my great wisdom?’ I said to myself, ‘Wisdom too has no purpose.’

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

I thought to myself, "The same thing that happens to a fool will also happen to me. So why have I tried so hard to become wise?" I said to myself, "Being wise is also useless."

Then I said in my heart, "What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?" And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

I thought to myself, “What happens to fools is going to happen to me, too. So what have I gained from being so wise?” “Nothing,” I answered, “not a thing.”

English God's Word - GW 1995

I thought to myself, "{If} the destiny that waits for the fool waits for me as well, then what is the advantage in being wise?" So I thought that even this is pointless.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

So I said to myself, "What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?" And I said to myself that this is also futile.

English KJV 1611

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.

English LSB

Then I said in my heart, “As is the fate of the fool, so will my fate be also. Why then have I been extremely wise?” So I said in my heart, “This too is vanity.”

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Then I said in my heart, “The same event that befalls the fool will also befall me. So to what advantage is my wisdom?” Then I said to myself, “This also is vanity.”

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

Then I said to myself, "As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?" So I said to myself, "This too is vanity."

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

So I said to myself, if the fool's lot is to befall me also, why then should I be wise? Where is the profit for me? And I concluded in my heart that this too is vanity.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

So I thought to myself, “The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?” So I lamented to myself, “The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!”

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

Then I thought, "What happens to a foolish person will catch up with me too. So what do I gain by being wise?" I said to myself, "That doesn't have any meaning either."

English NIV

Then I thought in my heart, "The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?" I said in my heart, "This too is meaningless."

English NKJ 1982

So I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart, “This also is vanity.”

English NLT

Both of them die. Just as the fool will die, so will I. So of what value is all my wisdom? Then I said to myself, "This is all so meaningless!"

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

Then I said to myself, "What happens to the fool will happen to me also; why then have I been so very wise?" And I said to myself that this also is vanity.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

Then I said to myself, “What befalls the fool will befall me also; why then have I been so very wise?” And I said to myself that this also is vanity.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

just as the fool will die, so will I. So of what value is all my wisdom? Then I realized that even wisdom is futile.

English Tyndale 1537

Then thought I in my mind: If it happeneth unto the fool as it doth unto me, what needeth me then to labour any more for wisdom? So I confessed within my heart, that this also was but vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:15 — Compare Translations