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.
I have seen everything during my meaningless days on earth: good people who die young despite living right, and evil people who live long lives even while doing wrong.
The writer is observing that life often seems unfair, sometimes good people suffer while bad people prosper.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Ecclesiastes, written during the time of ancient Israel under the wisdom of King Solomon, the author reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the paradoxes observed in human experience. He notes the apparent injustices where the righteous sometimes suffer untimely deaths while the wicked live long lives, challenging the simplistic idea that virtue always brings reward. This verse fits into a broader exploration of life's vanities and the limits of human understanding under the sun.
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