Ecclesiastes 7:15All this have I 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.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~950 BC. Solomon reflecting on injustices he's witnessed during his reign - righteous people suffering while evil people thrive. Modern-day Israel, where such observations continue.
The emotion here: heartbroken disillusionment at watching injustice flourish during his own reign
The original word
hebel (הֶבֶל) — vanity, vapor, meaninglessness - life that seems pointless
Why it matters
Solomon had the power to execute justice but still couldn't prevent all injustice in his kingdom
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ecclesiastes 7:15
Solomon isn't being cynical - he's honestly reporting what he observed during his reign
Common misconceptionPeople think Solomon lost his faith here. He's actually being brutally honest about earthly injustice while maintaining belief in eternal justice.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ecclesiastes 7:15
Bible Genome reading
Ecclesiastes 7:15 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ecclesiastes 7:15 comes from the book of Ecclesiastes, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include life's contradictions, divine justice. Notable phrases: righteous man who perishes; wicked man who lives long.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does Ecclesiastes 7:15 mean to you, today?
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