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Ecclesiastes 2:14-15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Ecclesiastes 2:14-15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
14 Wise people have eyes in their heads,
but fools walk in darkness.
Yet I knew that the same lot befalls both.[a](A) 15 So I said in my heart, if the fool’s lot is to befall me also, why should I be wise? Where is the profit? And in my heart I decided that this too is vanity.
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- 2:14 Yet I knew…befalls both: the author quotes a traditional saying upholding the advantages of wisdom, but then qualifies it. Nothing, not even wisdom itself, can give someone absolute control over their destiny and therefore guarantee any advantage.
Ecclesiastes 2:14-15
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 2:14-15
New International Version
14 The wise have eyes in their heads,
while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize
that the same fate overtakes them both.(A)
15 Then I said to myself,
“The fate of the fool will overtake me also.
What then do I gain by being wise?”(B)
I said to myself,
“This too is meaningless.”
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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