Ecclesiastes 8:14

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.

Cross-reference

Ecclesiastes 2:14 already notes that wise and fool share the same fate, anticipating the injustice theme in Ecclesiastes 8:14.

Ecclesiastes 7:15 makes the identical observation about righteous perishing and wicked prolonging life, a direct parallel to Ecclesiastes 8:14.

Ecclesiastes 9:1-3 explicitly states that the same event happens to righteous and wicked, elaborating on the injustice of Ecclesiastes 8:14.

Ecclesiastes 9:3 expands on the injustice by stating the same fate (death) comes to all, directly echoing Ecclesiastes 8:14.

Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 gives a concrete example of social inversion (fools in high places) that illustrates the injustice observed in Ecclesiastes 8:14.

Job 9:22 Parallel

Job 9:22 says God destroys both blameless and wicked, directly mirroring the injustice theme in Ecclesiastes 8:14.

Job 21:17-34 questions why the wicked often prosper and escape punishment, echoing the same injustice that righteous suffer like the wicked.

Job 24:21-25 describes how the wicked oppress yet God seems to prolong their lives, paralleling the apparent injustice of righteous suffering.

Psalm 73:13 Parallel

Psalm 73:13 laments that keeping a pure heart seems vain when the wicked prosper, directly mirroring the frustration in Ecclesiastes 8:14.

Psalm 73:14 Parallel

Psalm 73:14 continues the complaint of unmerited suffering, describing daily affliction despite righteousness — a vivid parallel to the same dilemma.

Malachi 3:15 declares that evildoers prosper and test God yet escape — a direct restatement of the same observation about wicked flourishing.

1 Kings 21:14 Historical context

1 Kings 21:14 records the unjust stoning of the righteous Naboth, providing a concrete example of the righteous treated like the wicked.

2 Kings 23:29 Historical context

2 Kings 23:29 recounts righteous King Josiah being killed in battle, illustrating how the godly can suffer an untimely death.

2 Chronicles 35:24 Historical context

2 Chronicles 35:24 describes the death of righteous Josiah, reinforcing the same theme of the righteous suffering like the wicked.