Amplified Bible
Ecclesiastes 8:14
14There 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).
Ecclesiastes 8:14 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless.
- English Standard Version (ESV)There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.
- New King James Version (NKJV)There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just 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.
Context of Ecclesiastes 8:14
12Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his life [seemingly] is prolonged [in spite of his wickedness], still I know that it will be well with those who [reverently] fear God, who fear and worship Him openly [realizing His omnipresence and His power]. 13But it will not be well for the evil man, nor will he lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God. 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). 15Then I commended pleasure and enjoyment, because a man [without God] has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and to be merry, for this will stand by him in his toil through the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. 16When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to see the activities [of mankind] that take place upon the earth—how some men seem to sleep neither day nor night—
Read all of Ecclesiastes 8Ecclesiastes 8:14 word by word
יֶשׁ־הֶבֶל֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֣ה עַל־הָאָרֶץ֒ אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀ יֵ֣שׁ צַדִּיקִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַגִּ֤יעַ אֲלֵהֶם֙ כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָרְשָׁעִ֔ים וְיֵ֣שׁ רְשָׁעִ֔ים שֶׁמַּגִּ֥יעַ אֲלֵהֶ֖ם כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הַצַּדִּיקִ֑ים אָמַ֕רְתִּי שֶׁגַּם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- There isיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
- a vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
- which is doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- upon the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- that there be justצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
- unto whom it happenethנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
- according to the workמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deedH4639
- of the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
- I saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- that this alsoגַּםgam · alsoH1571
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:14
- Ecclesiastes 4:4I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 9:3This evil is in all that is done under the sun, that one fate comes to all. Also, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they go to the dead.
- Ecclesiastes 10:5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler—
- Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness; and yet I know that [in the end] one fate happens to them both.
- Ecclesiastes 7:15I have seen everything during my [fleeting] days of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in [spite of] his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives a long life in [spite of] his wickedness.
- Ecclesiastes 9:1For I have taken all this to heart, exploring and examining it all, how the righteous (those in right standing with God) and the wise and their deeds are in the hands of God. No man knows whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him.
- Job 9:22It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys [both] the blameless and the wicked.’
- Job 21:17“How often [then] is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, And that their disaster falls on them? Does God distribute pain and destruction and sorrow [to them] in His anger?
- Job 24:21He preys on the barren (childless) woman And does no good for the widow.
- Psalms 73:13Surely then in vain I have cleansed my heart And washed my hands in innocence.
- Malachi 3:15So now we call the arrogant happy and blessed. Evildoers are exalted and prosper; and when they test God, they escape [unpunished].’ ”
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14There be just men - See on Ecclesiastes 7:16; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Which 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 Ecclesiastes 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-17Verses 14-17 Faith alone can establish the heart in this mixed scene, where the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper. Solomon commended joy, and holy security of mind, arising from confidence in God, because a man has no better thing under the sun, though a good man has much better things above the sun, than soberly and thankfully to use the things of this life according to his rank. He would not have us try to give a reason for what God does…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. An objection is here started (entertained by Solomon in his apostasy), as in Ec 3:16; 7:15, to the truth of retributive justice, from the fact of the just and the wicked not now receiving always according to their respective deserts; a cavil, which would seem the more weighty to men living under the Mosaic covenant of temporal sanctions. The objector adds, as Solomon had said, that the worldling's pursuits are "vanity" (Ec 8:10), "I say (not 'said')…Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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