Parallel Verses

Julia Smith Translation

There is vanity which was done upon the earth; that there is the just which it comes upon them according to the work of the unjust: and there is the unjust, it comes upon them according to the work of the just. I said, Also this is vanity.

New American Standard Bible

There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility.

King James Version

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.

Holman Bible

There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

International Standard Version

Here is a pointless thing that happens on earth: A righteous man receives what happens to the wicked, and a wicked man receives what happens to the righteous. I concluded that this, too, is pointless.

A Conservative Version

There is a vanity which is done upon 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

American Standard Version

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.

Amplified

There is a meaningless and futile thing which is done on the earth: that is, there are righteous men whose gain is as though they were evil, and evil men whose gain is as though they were righteous. I say that this too is futility (meaningless, vain).

Bible in Basic English

There is a thing which is to no purpose done on the earth: that there are good men to whom is given the same punishment as those who are evil, and there are evil men who get the reward of the good. I say that this again is to no purpose.

Darby Translation

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.

King James 2000

There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there are just men, unto 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.

Lexham Expanded Bible

There [is] a vanity that happens on earth: sometimes the righteous suffer what the wicked deserve, and sometimes the wicked receive what the righteous deserve. I said, "This also [is] vanity!"

Modern King James verseion

There is a vanity which is done on the earth: There are just ones to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked ones to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Yet is there a vanity upon earth: there be just men, unto whom it happeneth, as though they had the works of the ungodly; Again, there be ungodly, with whom it goeth as though they had the works of the righteous. This me think also a vain thing.

NET Bible

Here is another enigma that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said, "This also is an enigma."

New Heart English Bible

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.

The Emphasized Bible

Here was a vain thing which was done upon the earth - that there were righteous men unto whom it happened according to the work of the lawless, and there were lawless men, unto whom it happened according to the work of the righteous, - I said, that, even this, was vanity.

Webster

There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there are just men, to 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.

World English Bible

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.

Youngs Literal Translation

There is a vanity that hath been done upon the earth, that there are righteous ones unto whom it is coming according to the work of the wicked, and there are wicked ones unto whom it is coming according to the work of the righteous. I have said that this also is vanity.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
There is
ישׁ 
Yesh 
is, be, have, there,
Usage: 135

a vanity
הבל הבל 
hebel 
Usage: 73

upon the earth
ארץ 
'erets 
Usage: 2504

צדּיק 
Tsaddiyq 
Usage: 206

according to the work
מעשׂה 
Ma`aseh 
מעשׂה 
Ma`aseh 
Usage: 234
Usage: 234

of the wicked
רשׁע 
Rasha` 
Usage: 263

again, there be
ישׁ 
Yesh 
is, be, have, there,
Usage: 135

רשׁע 
Rasha` 
Usage: 263

men, to whom it happeneth
נגע 
Naga` 
Usage: 150

of the righteous
צדּיק 
Tsaddiyq 
Usage: 206

גּם 
Gam 
also, as, even, again, and,
Usage: 761

References

Context Readings

Although Evil Is Not Punished Swiftly, God Does Eventually Punish Sinners

13 And it shall not be good to the unjust one; he shall not lengthen the days as a shadow, for he feared not from before the face of God. 14 There is vanity which was done upon the earth; that there is the just which it comes upon them according to the work of the unjust: and there is the unjust, it comes upon them according to the work of the just. I said, Also this is vanity. 15 And I praised joy, because there is no good to man under the sun but to eat and to drink, and to rejoice: for this shall lodge with him in his labor the days of his life which God gave to him under the sun.

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 7:15

I saw all in the days of my vanity: there is a just one perishing in his justice, and there is an unjust one, being prolonged in his evil.

Malachi 3:15

And now we pronounce the proud happy; also they working injustice were built up; also they tried Jehovah and they will be delivered.

Job 21:7

Wherefore shall the unjust live? They grew old, also they were strong in power.

Ecclesiastes 2:14

The wise, his eyes in his head; and the foolish one goes in darkness: and I knew, I also, that one event will meet with them all.

Job 9:22-24

It is one: for this, I said, The blameless one and the unjust one he finishes.

Job 21:17-34

How often the light of the unjust shall be extinguished, and their destruction will come upon them. He will distribute pains in his anger.

Job 24:21-25

He did evil to the barren; she will not bear: andhewill not do good to the widow.

Psalm 73:3

For I was envious at the foolish; I shall see the peace of the unjust

Psalm 73:12-14

Behold, these the unjust, and they being secure of the world increased riches.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

And I saw all the labor and all the success of the work, for this the jealousy of a man from his neighbor. Also this is vanity and striving of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There is one, and not a second; also a son and brother not to him: and no end to all his labor; also his eye shall not be satisfied with riches: and for whom do I labor and diminish my soul from good? Also this is vanity, and it is an evil labor.

Ecclesiastes 9:1-3

For all this I gave to my heart, and to examine all this, that the just and the wise and their works are in the hand of God: also love, also hatred, no man shall know of all before them.

Ecclesiastes 10:5

There is an evil I saw under the sun as an error going forth from before him having power:

Jeremiah 12:1

Just art thou, O Jehovah, for I will strive to thee: surely I will speak judgments with thee: Wherefore did the way of the evil prosper? all they acting faithlessly with treachery were secure?

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International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

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NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain