Ecclesiastes 7:15 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →In his fleeting days the Preacher has seen the upside-down sight of righteous people perishing and wicked people living long.
What Does Ecclesiastes 7:15 Mean?
The Preacher reports honestly what he has observed 'in the days of my vanity' — his brief, vaporous life. He names a hard reality: sometimes the good suffer and die while the wicked seem to thrive. He does not tidy it away.
Scripture is unflinching about the apparent unfairness of life under the sun. This is not the whole story, but it is part of an honest one, and naming it keeps faith from becoming naive. The believer who sees such things is driven to look beyond the present horizon to the God who will finally set every account right.
Ecclesiastes 7:15 in the Original Language
hevel (הֶבֶל), 'vanity' -- vapor or breath; here the brief, passing span of his life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 7:15
What does Ecclesiastes 7:15 mean?
In his fleeting days the Preacher has seen the upside-down sight of righteous people perishing and wicked people living long.