Ecclesiastes 8:14
Good News Translation
But this is nonsense. Look at what happens in the world: sometimes the righteous get the punishment of the wicked, and the wicked get the reward of the righteous. I say it is useless.

New Revised Standard Version
There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people who are treated according to the conduct of the wicked, and there are wicked people who are treated according to the conduct of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

Contemporary English Version
There is something else that doesn't make sense to me. Good citizens are treated as criminals, while criminals are honored as though they were good citizens.

New American Bible
This is a vanity that occurs on earth: There are those who are just but are treated as though they had done evil, and those who are wicked but are treated as though they had done justly. This, too, I say is vanity.

Douay-Rheims Bible
There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are just men to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the wicked: and there are wicked men, who are as secure as though they had the deeds of the just: but this also I judge most vain.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are just men to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the wicked: and there are wicked men, who are as secure as though they had the deeds of the just: but this also I judge most vain.

a vanity

Ecclesiastes 4:4,8 Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour: so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless care. . . .

Ecclesiastes 9:3 This is a very great evil among all things that are done under the sun, that the same things happen to all men: whereby also the hearts of the children of men are filled with evil, and with contempt while they live, and afterwards they shall be brought down to hell.

Ecclesiastes 10:5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:

there shall be just

Ecclesiastes 2:14 The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike.

Ecclesiastes 7:15 These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness.

Ecclesiastes 9:1-3 All these things have I considered in my heart, that I might carefully understand them: there are just men and wise men, and their works are in the hand of God: and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love, or hatred: . . .

Job 9:22-24 One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth. . . .

Job 21:17 How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?

Job 24:21-25 For he hath fed the barren that beareth not, and to the widow he hath done no good. . . .

Psalm 73:13,14 And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent. . . .

Malachi 3:15 Wherefore now we call the proud people happy, for they that work wickedness are built up, and they have tempted God and are preserved.

Context
God's Ways are Mysterious
14There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are just men to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the wicked: and there are wicked men, who are as secure as though they had the deeds of the just: but this also I judge most vain.15Therefore I commended mirth, because there was no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry, and that he should take nothing else with him of his labour in the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.…
Cross References
Job 21:7
Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?

Psalm 73:3
Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.

Psalm 73:12
Behold these are sinners; and yet, abounding in the world they have obtained riches.

Psalm 73:14
And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.

Ecclesiastes 7:15
These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness.

Jeremiah 12:1
Thou indeed, O Lord, art just, if I plead with thee, but yet I will speak what is just to thee: Why doth the way of the wicked prosper: why is it well with all them that transgress, and do wickedly?

Malachi 3:15
Wherefore now we call the proud people happy, for they that work wickedness are built up, and they have tempted God and are preserved.

Ecclesiastes 8:13
Top of Page
Top of Page