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Ecclesiastes 2:23
For all his daysare sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 5:16,17
And this alsois a sore evil,that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? …

Ecclesiastes 6:12
For who knoweth whatis good for man inthis life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

there is a just

Ecclesiastes 3:16
And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment,that wickednesswas there; and the place of righteousness,that iniquitywas there.

Ecclesiastes 8:14
There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be justmen, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wickedmen, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this alsois vanity.

Ecclesiastes 9:1,2
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 hatredby allthat is before them…

there is a wicked

Ecclesiastes 8:12,13
Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and hisdays be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: …

Job 21:7-15
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? …

Psalm 73:3-13
For I was envious at the foolish,when I saw the prosperity of the wicked…

I have seen both of these:
The phrase introduces a personal observation, suggesting that the insights shared are based on real-life experiences. This approach is consistent with the wisdom literature style, which often draws from practical life observations to convey deeper truths. The use of "both of these" sets up a contrast between two seemingly contradictory outcomes.

A righteous man perishing in his righteousness,
This observation challenges the common expectation that righteousness leads to prosperity and long life, as seen inProverbs 10:27. The righteous man's untimely death despite his righteousness raises questions about divine justice and the apparent randomness of life events. This paradox is echoed in the experiences of Job, who suffered despite his righteousness, and foreshadows the ultimate righteous sufferer, Jesus Christ, who perished despite His perfect righteousness.

and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
The longevity of the wicked, despite their immoral behavior, further complicates the understanding of divine justice. This scenario is addressed in other scriptures, such asPsalm 73, where the psalmist grapples with the prosperity of the wicked. The long life of the wicked serves as a test of faith for believers, reminding them that ultimate justice is in God's hands and may not be fully realized in this life. This tension points to the eschatological hope of final judgment and the establishment of God's kingdom, where true justice will prevail.

Solomon opens with a sigh that all of us recognize: life under the sun can feel fleeting and frustrating. Ecclesiastes begins and ends with the refrain “Vanity of vanities” (Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12:8), and here he personalizes that theme—“my futile life.”

• This honesty invites us to look squarely at the brevity of our days, echoingPsalm 39:5, “Surely every man at his best is a vapor.”

• Yet Scripture never leaves us in despair;James 4:14 reminds that the mist of life drives us to humble dependence on God.

Solomon is not theorizing; he is recording real observation. Wisdom literature often begins with what the eye sees, then leads us to what faith believes (compareEcclesiastes 1:14;Proverbs 20:24).

• By admitting what seems contradictory, Solomon prepares us for God’s deeper answer—just as Asaph wrestled out loud inPsalm 73: “I saw the prosperity of the wicked… surely in vain I kept my heart pure.”

• Authentic faith does not ignore hard evidence; it brings confusion to the Lord instead of hiding it.

Here is the perplexity: sometimes the one who loves God and lives uprightly still dies early or suffers greatly.

• Job’s story (Job 1–2; 42) shows that righteousness does not guarantee ease; it does guarantee God’s sustaining presence.

•Hebrews 11:35-38 lists faithful saints who “were put to death with the sword,” yet the chapter calls them victorious.

•Isaiah 57:1 offers comfort: “The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart… but they are spared from evil.” Temporal loss can be divine mercy, ushering believers into eternal joy (Philippians 1:21-23).

• The cross itself displays this mystery: the only truly righteous Man perished, yet in doing so secured resurrection life for all who believe (2 Corinthians 5:21;1 Peter 3:18).

Just as troubling is the villain who seems to evade consequence. Solomon saw it; so did Jeremiah: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” (Jeremiah 12:1).

•Psalm 73:3-12 paints the same scene—arrogant people healthy, wealthy, and carefree.

• YetPsalm 73 continues: “Then I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end” (vv. 17-20). Earthly longevity is not blessing if it only lengthens rebellion; judgment is certain (Hebrews 9:27).

• God’s patience toward the wicked reflects His desire that they repent (2 Peter 3:9), but His justice will not fail (Romans 2:5-6;Revelation 20:12-15).

Ecclesiastes 7:15 names a reality every believer notices sooner or later: life does not always sort people into tidy categories of reward and punishment on our timetable. The righteous may suffer; the wicked may thrive—temporarily. Solomon’s candid observation drives us to trust God beyond what we can see. Eternal perspective reveals that righteousness is never wasted and wickedness never truly succeeds. Our calling is to walk faithfully, leave outcomes to the Judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25), and rest in Christ, who redeems every apparent contradiction for His glory and our good.