Ecclesiastes 8:14

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.

World English Bible Classic

In The 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.

In Context

13But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he lengthen days like a shadow, because he doesn’t fear God.

15Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat, to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 8

Cross References

Job 1:22In all this, Job didn’t sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.

Job 21:7“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?

Job 24:21He devours the barren who don’t bear. He shows no kindness to the widow.

Psalms 73:3For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.

Ecclesiastes 4:8There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 8:10-14

The Evil of Oppressive Rulers. 9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt. 10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity. 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner do… Read the whole commentary →

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