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

12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time, yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people – for they stand in fear before him. 13But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God. Here is another enigma that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said, “This also is an enigma.” 15So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life. So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth. 16When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth – even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or 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 considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless – like chasing the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 9:3This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives – then they die.
• Ecclesiastes 10:5I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.
• Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.
• Ecclesiastes 7:15During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.
• Ecclesiastes 9:1So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated – no one knows what lies ahead.
• Job 9:22“It is all one! That is why I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the guilty.’
• Job 21:17“How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? How often does their misfortune come upon them? How often does God apportion pain to them in his anger?
• Job 24:21He preys on the barren and childless woman, and does not treat the widow well.
• Psalms 73:13I concluded, “Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.
• Malachi 3:15So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. In fact, those who challenge God escape!’”

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