I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people.

有义人行义，反致灭亡；有恶人行恶，倒享长寿。这都是我在虚度之日中所见过的。

在虚度的日子里，我见过各样的事情，义人在他的义中灭亡，恶人在他的恶中倒享长寿。

在虚度的日子里，我见过各样的事情，义人在他的义中灭亡，恶人在他的恶中倒享长寿。

在我虚空的一生中，我见过义人行义，反而灭亡；恶人行恶，却享长寿。

在我虚空的日子里，我见过这两件事：有义人行义反而灭亡，有恶人行恶倒享长寿。

在我虚空的日子里，我看到这一切：有义人在他的公义中死亡，有恶人在他的邪恶中长寿。

有義人行義，反致滅亡；有惡人行惡，倒享長壽。這都是我在虛度之日中所見過的。

在虛度的日子裏，我見過各樣的事情，義人在他的義中滅亡，惡人在他的惡中倒享長壽。

在虛度的日子裏，我見過各樣的事情，義人在他的義中滅亡，惡人在他的惡中倒享長壽。

在我虛空的一生中，我見過義人行義，反而滅亡；惡人行惡，卻享長壽。

在我虛空的日子裡，我見過這兩件事：有義人行義反而滅亡，有惡人行惡倒享長壽。

在我虛幻的日子裏、我都見過以下的事：有義人在行義，反而早死；有惡人在行惡，倒享長壽。

在我虛空的日子裡，我看到這一切：有義人在他的公義中死亡，有惡人在他的邪惡中長壽。

有義人行義而隕沒、有惡人行惡而長久、我於虛空之日、皆見之矣、

我處塵凡、鑒觀事理、見有為義而早夭者、見有作惡而壽終者。

我在虛度之中、已見此諸事、又見善人雖善反夭亡、惡人雖惡反長壽、

In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

In my meaningless life here’s what I’ve seen. I’ve seen godly people dying even though they are godly. And I’ve seen sinful people living a long time even though they are sinful.

In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.

In my futile life I have seen everything: someone righteous perishes in spite of his righteousness, and someone wicked lives long in spite of his evil.

I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous person who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked person who prolongs his life in his wickedness.

I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.

All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil- doing.

In my futile life I have seen everything: there is a righteous man who perishes in spite of his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in spite of his evil.

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.

During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.

But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off.The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows.And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless!

In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?

“ Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time— from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar.

Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.

This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor.The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don’t.

Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered. Your name is on their lips, but you are far from their hearts.

Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and King Joash ordered that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple.That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his loyalty— by killing his son. Zechariah’s last words as he died were,“ May the Lord see what they are doing and avenge my death!”

I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt!

Then the two scoundrels came and sat down across from him. And they accused Naboth before all the people, saying,“ He cursed God and the king.” So he was dragged outside the town and stoned to death.

Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One— the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered.

“ No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! Only the cursed will die that young!

Jacob replied,“ I have traveled this earth for 130 hard years. But my life has been short compared to the lives of my ancestors.”

Then the king said to Doeg,“ You do it.” So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments.Then he went to Nob, the town of the priests, and killed the priests’ families— men and women, children and babies— and all the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.

Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil.

Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That’s why I say,‘ He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent.

For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.“ What does God know?” they ask.“ Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.

“ Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren.Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them.Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.They let their children frisk about like lambs. Their little ones skip and dance.They sing with tambourine and harp. They celebrate to the sound of the flute.They spend their days in prosperity, then go down to the grave in peace.And yet they say to God,‘ Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?’

And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing— like working for the wind.Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud— frustrated, discouraged, and angry.

For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.