Ecclesiastes 8:14
Bible › Ecclesiastes › Chapter 8 › Verse 14
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.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.
In other translations
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.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.
Hebrew words
יֶשׁ־yesh-thereH3426הֶבֶלhevel[is] futilityH1892אֲשֶׁר'asherwhichH834נַעֲשָׂהna'asahit is doneH6213עַל־'al-onH5921הָאָרֶץha'aretzthe earthH776אֲשֶׁר׀'asherthatH834יֵשׁyeshthereH3426צַדִּיקִיםtzadikim[are] righteous [people]H6662אֲשֶׁר'asherwhomH834מַגִּיעַmagia'[it is] happeningH5060אֲלֵהֶם'alehemto themH413כְּמַעֲשֵׂהkema'asehaccording to [the] deed[s] ofH4639הָרְשָׁעִיםharesha'im<the> wicked [people]H7563וְיֵשׁveyeshand thereH3426רְשָׁעִיםresha'im[are] wicked [people]H7563שֶׁמַּגִּיעַshemagia'[to] whom [it is] happeningH5060אֲלֵהֶם'alehemto themH413כְּמַעֲשֵׂהkema'asehaccording to [the] deed[s] ofH4639הַצַּדִּיקִיםhatzadikim<the> righteous [people]H6662אָמַרְתִּי'amartiI saidH559שֶׁגַּם־shegam-that alsoH1571זֶהzehthisH2088הָבֶל׃havel[is] futilityH1892
Word by word from STEPBible's tagged Hebrew Old Testament, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Hebrew reads right to left.
Related verses
- Ecclesiastes 7:15All 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.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.
- Malachi 3:15And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”
- Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.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.
- Ecclesiastes 9:1-31 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. 2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.1 So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate. 2 It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow. 3 This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.
- Psalm 73:3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Psalm 73:12-1412 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.12 Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth. 13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands. 14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
- Job 21:7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
- Job 21:17-3417 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. 18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. 19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. 20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction? 18 Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm? 19 It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it. 20 Let his eyes see his own destruction; let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.
- Ecclesiastes 4:8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
- Ecclesiastes 4:4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, most-voted first.