Ecclesiastes 8:14

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

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. 13But it will not go well for the wicked. They will not live any longer. Their lives are like shadows, because they don’t fear God. There 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. 15So I recommend the enjoyment ⌞of life⌟. People have nothing better to do under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. This joy will stay with them while they work hard during their brief lives which God has given them under the sun. 16When I carefully considered how to study wisdom and how to look at the work that is done on earth (even going without sleep day and night),

Ecclesiastes 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 4:4Then I saw that all hard work and skillful effort come from rivalry. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 9:3This is the tragedy of everything that happens under the sun: Everyone shares the same destiny. Moreover, the hearts of mortals are full of evil. Madness is in their hearts while they are still alive. After that, they join the dead.
• Ecclesiastes 10:5There is a tragedy that I’ve seen under the sun, an error often made by rulers.
• Ecclesiastes 2:14A wise person uses the eyes in his head, but a fool walks in the dark. But I have also come to realize that the same destiny waits for both of them.
• Ecclesiastes 7:15I 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.
• 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.
• Job 9:22It is all the same. That is why I say, ‘He destroys ⌞both⌟ the man of integrity and the wicked.’
• Job 21:17“How often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does disaster happen to them? How often does an angry God give them pain?
• Job 24:21These men take advantage of childless women. These men show no kindness to widows.
• Psalms 73:13I’ve received no reward for keeping my life pure and washing my hands of any blame.
• Malachi 3:15So now we call arrogant people blessed. Not only are evildoers encouraged, they even test God and get away with it.’ ”

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

• Discern
• Discharge
• Feel
• Hasty
• Heart
• Set
• Happen
• Synagogue, the Great

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