Ecclesiastes 8:14
12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.
There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.
15 So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night—
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.
- KJV
- There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
- WEB
- There is a vanity which is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked. Again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.
- ASV
- There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there are righteous men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
- DARBY
- There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there are righteous [men] unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; and there are wicked [men] to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.
- BLB
- There is a vapor that occurs on the earth: That there are righteous ones for whom it touches them according to the work of the wicked, and there are wicked for whom it touches them according to the work of the righteous. I have said this also [is] vapor.
- ÅB
- Der er noe tomt som hender på jorden: at der er rettferdige hvem det går som om de hadde gjort de ugudeliges gjerninger, og at der er ugudelige hvem det går som om de hadde gjort de rettferdiges gjerninger. Jeg sier at også dette er tomhet.
- OTB
- Det er en tomhet som oppstår på jorden: rettferdige mennesker som får det de onde fortjener, og onde mennesker som får det de rettferdige fortjener. Jeg sier at dette også er tomhet.
- B1930
- Der er noget tomt som hender på jorden: at der er rettferdige hvem det går som om de hadde gjort de ugudeliges gjerninger, og at der er ugudelige hvem det går som om de hadde gjort de rettferdiges gjerninger. Jeg sier at også dette er tomhet.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ecclesiastes 7:15
In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
Read in contextMalachi 3:15
So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:14
The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 9:1–3
So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.
Read in contextPsalms 73:3
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Read in contextJob 21:7
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
Read in contextPsalms 73:12–14
Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.
Read in contextJeremiah 12:1
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
Read in context