Ecc 2:16, 9:5 | JFB | STEP | 16. remembrance —a great aim of the worldly ( ). The righteous alone attain it ( ). for ever —no perpetual memorial. that which now is —MAURER , "In the days to come all things shall be now long ago forgotten."

Ecclesiastes 2:16

16. remembrance—a great aim of the worldly (Ge 11:4). The righteous alone attain it (Ps 112:6; Pr 10:7).

for ever—no perpetual memorial.

that which now is—MAURER, "In the days to come all things shall be now long ago forgotten."

Ecclesiastes 9:5

5. know that they shall die—and may thereby be led "so to number their days, that they may apply their hearts to wisdom" (Ec 7:1-4; Ps 90:12).

dead know not anything—that is, so far as their bodily senses and worldly affairs are concerned (Job 14:21; Isa 63:16); also, they know no door of repentance open to them, such as is to all on earth.

neither . . . reward—no advantage from their worldly labors (Ec 2:18-22; 4:9).

memory—not of the righteous (Ps 112:6; Mal 3:16), but the wicked, who with all the pains to perpetuate their names (Ps 49:11) are soon "forgotten" (Ec 8:10).