Ecclesiastes 8:14 “There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men…”

Ecclesiastes 8:14

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

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.

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.

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

There is a vanitie, which is done vpon the earth, that there be righteous men to whom it commeth according to the worke of the wicked: and there be wicked men to whom it commeth according to the worke of the iust: I thought also that this is vanitie.

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.

Young's 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.

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.

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Cross references

“a vanity”

Ecclesiastes 4:4 Ecclesiastes 4:8 Ecclesiastes 10:5 Ecclesiastes 9:3

Ecclesiastes 4:4 · BSB

I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8 · BSB

There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—…

Ecclesiastes 10:5 · BSB

There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:

Ecclesiastes 9:3 · BSB

This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.

“there be just”

Ecclesiastes 7:15 Ecclesiastes 2:14 Malachi 3:15 Ecclesiastes 9:1–3 Job 9:22–24 Job 21:17–34

Ecclesiastes 7:15 · BSB

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.

Ecclesiastes 2:14 · BSB

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.

Malachi 3:15 · BSB

So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”

Ecclesiastes 9:1–3 · BSB

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.

Job 9:22–24 · BSB

It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

Job 21:17–34 · BSB

How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?

Also

Psalm 73:3 Psalm 73:12–14 Job 21:7 Jeremiah 12:1

Psalm 73:3 · BSB

For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalm 73:12–14 · BSB

Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.

Job 21:7 · BSB

Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

Jeremiah 12:1 · BSB

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?

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

13Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

15So 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.

Read Ecclesiastes 8