Ecclesiastes 7:15
All 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.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
This tension between retribution theology (righteousness brings prosperity; wickedness brings ruin) and observed reality permeates wisdom literature. Psalm 73 articulates the anguish of seeing the wicked prosper, resolved only by entering God's sanctuary and recognizing their final end (Psalm 73:2-3, 16-20). Habakkuk questioned God about Babylon's triumph over Judah (Habakkuk 1:13). Jeremiah asked why the wicked prosper (Jeremiah 12:1). The patriarchs died without receiving promises (Hebrews 11:13, 39-40). Church history includes martyrs cut down young while persecutors lived long. This verse refuses easy answers, pointing toward eternal rather than temporal justice. The cross itself epitomizes this paradox: the Righteous One perished while the guilty were freed.
Questions for Reflection
- What experiences of suffering righteousness or prospering wickedness have challenged your understanding of God's justice?
- How does the promise of final judgment and eternal justice sustain your faith when present circumstances appear unjust?
Analysis & Commentary
All things have I seen in the days of my vanity (אֶת־הַכֹּל רָאִיתִי בִּימֵי הֶבְלִי, et-hakol ra'iti bimei hevli)—'All things' (hakol) signals comprehensive observation. 'Days of my vanity' uses hevel, Ecclesiastes's key term meaning 'vapor,' 'breath,' or 'futility'—life's temporary, perplexing nature under the sun.
There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness—This observation confronts the simplistic prosperity theology critiqued throughout Ecclesiastes and Job. Righteous Job suffered while his 'friends' prospered; wicked Babylon flourished while godly Judah languished in exile. The verse acknowledges life's moral paradoxes without explaining them. Yet Scripture consistently affirms eventual justice: 'Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God' (8:12). The New Testament reveals final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) resolving all earthly inequities.