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!

世上有一件虚空的事，就是义人所遭遇的，反照恶人所行的；又有恶人所遭遇的，反照义人所行的。我说，这也是虚空。

世上有一件虚空的事，就是义人所遭遇的，反而照恶人所做的；恶人所遭遇的，反而照义人所做的。我说，这也是虚空。

世上有一件虚空的事，就是义人所遭遇的，反而照恶人所做的；恶人所遭遇的，反而照义人所做的。我说，这也是虚空。

世上有一件虚空的事，就是义人遭受了恶人当受的报应，恶人却享受了义人该享的福乐。我认为这也是虚空。

在世上有一件虚空的事，就是义人照恶人所行的受报应，恶人照义人所行的得报偿。我说，这也是虚空。

有一件虚空的事发生在地上：临到义人的是照着恶人所行的，临到恶人的是照着义人所行的。我说：“这也是虚空！”

世上有一件虛空的事，就是義人所遭遇的，反照惡人所行的；又有惡人所遭遇的，反照義人所行的。我說，這也是虛空。

世上有一件虛空的事，就是義人所遭遇的，反而照惡人所做的；惡人所遭遇的，反而照義人所做的。我說，這也是虛空。

世上有一件虛空的事，就是義人所遭遇的，反而照惡人所做的；惡人所遭遇的，反而照義人所做的。我說，這也是虛空。

世上有一件虛空的事，就是義人遭受了惡人當受的報應，惡人卻享受了義人該享的福樂。我認為這也是虛空。

在世上有一件虛空的事，就是義人照惡人所行的受報應，惡人照義人所行的得報償。我說，這也是虛空。

有一件虛空的事、是地上常發生的：就是有義人、所遭遇的、是照惡人的行為應得的；又有惡人、所遭遇的、是照義人的行為所應得的：我說這也是虛空。

有一件虛空的事發生在地上：臨到義人的是照著惡人所行的，臨到惡人的是照著義人所行的。我說：「這也是虛空！」

世有虛空之事、有義人所遭、依惡人所作、有惡人所遇、依義人所為、我謂斯亦虛空、

天下事可為長太息者、有時義人遭難、幾同惡人、惡人蒙休、有類義人、我則曰、此屬於虛。

世間更有一患事、即有善人遭惡人所當遭者、有惡人遇善人所當遇者、我則曰、此亦屬於虛、

There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless.

Here’s something else on this earth that doesn’t have any meaning. Sometimes godly people get what sinful people should receive. And sinful people get what godly people should receive. Here’s what I’m telling you. That doesn’t have any meaning either.

There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility.

There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there are righteous men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

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.

Here is another enigma that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said,“ This also is an enigma.”

There is a vanity which is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked. Again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

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

For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.” Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate.

From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.’”

“ Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?

For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

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.It seems so wrong that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. Already twisted by evil, people choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway.

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?I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.

This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself,“ Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

“ Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. Do they ever have trouble? Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?Are they driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like chaff? Not at all!“‘ Well,’ you say,‘ at least God will punish their children!’ But I say he should punish the ones who sin, so that they understand his judgment.Let them see their destruction with their own eyes. Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.For they will not care what happens to their family after they are dead.“ But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful?One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure,the picture of good health, vigorous and fit.Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life.But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots.“ Look, I know what you’re thinking. I know the schemes you plot against me.You will tell me of rich and wicked people whose houses have vanished because of their sins.But ask those who have been around, and they will tell you the truth.Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape disaster.No one criticizes them openly or pays them back for what they have done.When they are carried to the grave, an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery. Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest, and the earth gives sweet repose.“ How can your empty clichés comfort me? All your explanations are lies!”

They cheat the woman who has no son to help her. They refuse to help the needy widow.“ God, in his power, drags away the rich. They may rise high, but they have no assurance of life.They may be allowed to live in security, but God is always watching them.And though they are great now, in a moment they will be gone like all others, cut off like heads of grain.Can anyone claim otherwise? Who can prove me wrong?”

There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake

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?

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless— like chasing the wind.

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.The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked, and God blinds the eyes of the judges. If he’s not the one who does it, who is?