Ecclesiastes 8:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

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.

A vanity

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Ecclesiastes 9:3

Ecclesiastes 10:5

There be just

Bible References

A vanity

Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless -- like chasing the wind.

This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives -- then they die.

I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.

There be just

The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.

During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated -- no one knows what lies ahead.

"It is all one! That is why I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the guilty.'

"How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? How often does their misfortune come upon them? How often does God apportion pain to them in his anger?

He preys on the barren and childless woman, and does not treat the widow well.

I concluded, "Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.

So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. In fact, those who challenge God escape!'"