Ecclesiastes 7:15

Ecclesiastes 7:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
• New International Version (NIV)In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.

Context of Ecclesiastes 7:15

13Consider what God has done! Who can straighten what God has bent? 14When times are good, be happy. But when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one time as well as the other so that mortals cannot predict their future. I have seen it all in my pointless life: Righteous people die in spite of being righteous. Wicked people go on living in spite of being wicked. 16Don’t be too virtuous, and don’t be too wise. Why make yourself miserable? 17Don’t be too wicked, and don’t be a fool. Why should you die before your time is up?

Ecclesiastes 7:15 word by word

אֶת־הַכֹּ֥ל רָאִ֖יתִי בִּימֵ֣י הֶבְלִ֑י יֵ֤שׁ צַדִּיק֙ אֹבֵ֣ד בְּצִדְק֔וֹ וְיֵ֣שׁ רָשָׁ֔ע מַאֲרִ֖יךְ בְּרָעָתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• have I seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• in the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of my vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• there isיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• a justצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• that perishethאָבַד'âbad · to perishH6
• in his righteousnessצֶ֫דֶקtsedeq · righteousnessH6664
• and there is a wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• that prolongethאָרַךְ'ârak · to prolongH748
• in his wickednessרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:15

• Ecclesiastes 2:23Their entire life is filled with pain, and their work is unbearable. Even at night their minds don’t rest. Even this is pointless.
• Ecclesiastes 5:16This also is a painful tragedy: They leave exactly as they came. What advantage do they gain from working so hard for the wind?
• Ecclesiastes 6:12Who knows what may be good for mortals while they are alive, during the brief, pointless days they live? Mortals pass by like a shadow. Who will tell them about their future under the sun?
• Genesis 47:9Jacob answered Pharaoh, “The length of my stay on earth has been 130 years. The years of my life have been few and difficult, fewer than my ancestors’ years.”
• Psalms 39:6Each person who walks around is like a shadow. They are busy for no reason. They accumulate riches without knowing who will get them.”
• Ecclesiastes 3:16I saw something else under the sun: There is wickedness where justice should be found. There is wickedness where righteousness should be found.
• Ecclesiastes 8:14There is something being done on earth that is pointless. Righteous people suffer for what the wicked do, and wicked people get what the righteous deserve. I say that even this is pointless.
• Ecclesiastes 9:1Now, I have carefully thought about all this, and I explain it in this way: Righteous people and wise people, along with their accomplishments, are in God’s hands. No one knows whether there will be love or hatred.
• 1 Samuel 22:18So the king said to Doeg, “You turn and attack the priests.” Doeg from Edom turned and attacked the priests, and that day he killed 85 men wearing the linen priestly ephod.
• 1 Kings 21:13The two good-for-nothing men came in and sat opposite him. In front of the people, these men accused Naboth of cursing God and the king. So the people stoned him to death outside the city.
• 2 Chronicles 24:21But they plotted against Zechariah, and by the king’s order they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.
• Job 9:22It is all the same. That is why I say, ‘He destroys ⌞both⌟ the man of integrity and the wicked.’
• Matthew 23:34I’m sending you prophets, wise men, and teachers of the Scriptures. You will kill and crucify some of them. Others you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.
• John 16:2You will be thrown out of synagogues. Certainly, the time is coming when people who murder you will think that they are serving God.
• Acts 7:52Was there ever a prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute? They killed those who predicted that a man with God’s approval would come. You have now become the people who betrayed and murdered that man.
• Ecclesiastes 8:12A sinner may commit a hundred crimes and yet live a long life. Still, I know with certainty that it will go well for those who fear God, because they fear him.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15There is a just man that perisheth - This is another objection as if he had said, "I also have had considerable experience; and I have not discovered any marked approbation of the conduct of the righteous, or disapprobation of that of the wicked. On the contrary, I have seen a righteous man perish, while employed in the work of righteousness; and a wicked man prosperous, and even exalted, while living wickedly. The former is indeed a victim to his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-17Verses 15-17 The days of my vanity - This does not imply that those days of vanity were ended (see Ecclesiastes 1:12 note). The meaning may be best explained by a paraphrase. Solomon states how the wise man should regard the “crooked Ecclesiastes 7:13 work of God” when it bears upon him. He says in effect, “Do not think that thou couldest alter the two instances (described in Ecclesiastes 7:15) of such crooked work so as to make it straight, that thou art…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-22Verses 11-22 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. It shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth will not lengthen out the natural life; but true wisdom will give spiritual life, and strengthen men for services under their sufferings. Let us look upon the disposal of our condition as the work of God, and at last all will appear to have been for the best. In acts of righteousness, be not carried into heats or passions, no…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22God's control over everything is serious, but it gives us hope.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. An objection entertained by Solomon in the days of his vanity--his apostasy (Ec 8:14; Job 21:7). just ... perisheth--(1Ki 21:13). Temporal not eternal death (Joh 10:28). But see on Ec 7:16; "just" is probably a self-justiciary. wicked ... prolongeth--See the antidote to the abuse of this statement in Ec 8:12.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:15

• Death

In the dictionaries

• Adversity
• Bosom
• Consider
• Crackling
• Living
• Rest
• Prolong
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7

• 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