Ecclesiastes 8:14 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

¹⁴ 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 wicked people who are treated according to the conduct of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁴ Here also is a futility that goes on upon the earth: there are righteous men who fare as though they were wicked, and wicked men who fare as though they were righteous. I say that this also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

American Standard Version (1901)

¹⁴ There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there are righteous men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

Common English Bible

¹⁴ Here’s another thing that happens on earth that is pointless: the righteous get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked get what the righteous deserve. I say that this too is pointless.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁴ There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are the just, to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the impious. And there are the impious, who are very secure, as though they possess the deeds of the just. But this, too, I judge to be a very great vanity.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹⁴ 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.

Ecclesiastes 8:14 Cross References

Job 1:22

In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.

Job 21:7

Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

Job 27:12

All of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?

Psalm 73:3

For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Ecclesiastes 10:5

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler:

Ecclesiastes 2:14

The wise have eyes in their head, but fools walk in darkness. Yet I perceived that the same fate befalls all of them.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling,” they ask, “and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Ecclesiastes 7:15

In my vain life I have seen everything; there are righteous people who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked people who prolong their life in their evildoing.

Jeremiah 12:1

You will be in the right, O Lord, when I lay charges against you, but let me put my case to you. Why does the way of the guilty prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?

Malachi 3:15

Now we count the arrogant happy; evildoers not only prosper, but when they put God to the test they escape.”