Ecclesiastes 8:14 BSB

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.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

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.

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.

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Commentary

3 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

Which is done upon the earth - The instance of vanity, to which these words are applied, is the seeming inequality of God’s justice; but if they are considered in connection with the profession of personal faith in God’s absolute justice Ecc 8:12, the conclusion is irresistible, that, whatever reason the Preacher had for reserve in declaring his belief, he certainly looked forward to final judgment in a future state of existence (compare Ecc 3:17; Ecc 12:14).

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

He saw just men to whom it happened according to the work of the wicked, who, notwithstanding their righteousness, suffered very hard things, and continued long to do so, as if they were to be punished for some great wickedness.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

The objector adds, as Solomon had said, that the worldling's pursuits are "vanity" (Ec 8:10), "I say (not 'said') this also is vanity. Then I commend mirth," &c. [HOLDEN]. Ec 8:14, 15 may, however, be explained as teaching a cheerful, thankful use of God's gifts "under the sun," that is, not making them the chief good, as sensualists do, which Ec 2:2;

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

24 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
יֶשׁ־	yesh-	there	H3426 →
הֶבֶל֮	he.Vel	[is] futility	H1892 →
אֲשֶׁ֣ר	'a.Sher	which	H834 →
נַעֲשָׂ֣ה	na.'a.Sah	it is done	H6213 →
עַל־	'al-	on	H5921 →
הָאָרֶץ֒	ha.'a.Retz	the earth	H776 →
אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀	'a.Sher	that	H834 →
יֵ֣שׁ	yesh	there	H3426 →
צַדִּיקִ֗ים	tza.di.Kim	[are] righteous [people]	H6662 →
אֲשֶׁ֨ר	'a.Sher	whom	H834 →
מַגִּ֤יעַ	ma.Gi.a'	[it is] happening	H5060 →
אֲלֵהֶם֙	'a.le.Hem	to them	H413 →
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה	ke.ma.'a.Seh	according to [the] deed[s] of	H4639 →
הָרְשָׁעִ֔ים	ha.re.sha.'Im	<the> wicked [people]	H7563 →
וְיֵ֣שׁ	ve.Yesh	and there	H3426 →
רְשָׁעִ֔ים	re.sha.'Im	[are] wicked [people]	H7563 →
שֶׁמַּגִּ֥יעַ	she.ma.Gi.a'	[to] whom [it is] happening	H5060 →
אֲלֵהֶ֖ם	'a.le.Hem	to them	H413 →
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה	ke.ma.'a.Seh	according to [the] deed[s] of	H4639 →
הַצַּדִּיקִ֑ים	ha.tza.di.Kim	<the> righteous [people]	H6662 →
אָמַ֕רְתִּי	'a.Mar.ti	I said	H559 →
שֶׁגַּם־	she.gam-	that also	H1571 →
זֶ֖ה	zeh	this	H2088 →
הָֽבֶל׃	Ha.vel	[is] futility	H1892 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Psalms 73:3
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
leads to
- Job 21:7
  Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
- Jeremiah 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…
- Psalms 37:7
  Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
- Proverbs 23:17
  Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
- Psalms 37:1
  Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
Through
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.
leads to
- Ecclesiastes 8:12–14
  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.
Through
Ecclesiastes 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.
leads to
- Psalms 49:10
  For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
- Proverbs 17:24
  Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

About Ecclesiastes

King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain

Ecclesiastes: the study guide →Read chapter 8 →The featured study →

Continue: Ecclesiastes 8 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About Ecclesiastes

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About Ecclesiastes