12 Then I turned myself to consider wisdom ^aand madness and folly;
For what can the man do who succeeds the king?—
Only what he has already ^bdone. ‡

13 Then I saw that wisdom ^aexcels folly
As light excels darkness. ‡

15 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.”

16 For there is ^ano more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever,
Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come.
And how does a wise man die?
As the fool!  ‡