Ecclesiastes 7:15 bbe — These two have I seen in my life which is to no purpose: a good man coming to his end in his righteousness, and an evil…

Bible in Basic English

"These two have I seen in my life which is to no purpose: a good man coming to his end in his righteousness, and an evil man whose days are long in his evil-doing."

— Ecclesiastes 7:15, Bible in Basic English

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Ecclesiastes 7:15 in Other Translations

3 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “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.”

  • ASV

    “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. ”

  • NET

    “Exceptions to the Law of Retribution 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.”

Ecclesiastes 7 — Context

12

Wisdom keeps a man from danger even as money does; but the value of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to its owner.

13

Give thought to the work of God. Who will make straight what he has made bent?

14

In the day of wealth have joy, but in the day of evil take thought: God has put the one against the other, so that man may not be certain what will be after him.

15

These two have I seen in my life which is to no purpose: a good man coming to his end in his righteousness, and an evil man whose days are long in his evil-doing.

16

Be not given overmuch to righteousness and be not over-wise. Why let destruction come on you?

17

Be not evil overmuch, and be not foolish. Why come to your end before your time?

18

It is good to take this in your hand and not to keep your hand from that; he who has the fear of God will be free of the two.

Ecclesiastes 7:15 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 7:15 say?
Ecclesiastes 7:15 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “These two have I seen in my life which is to no purpose: a good man coming to his end in his righteousness, and an evil man whose days are long in his evil-doing.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 7:15 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 7:15 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 7, verse 15.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 7:15.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 7:15 in?
Ecclesiastes 7:15 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 7:15?
Ecclesiastes 7:15 reads (BBE): “These two have I seen in my life which is to no purpose: a good man coming to his end in his righteousness, and an evil man whose days are long in his evil-doing.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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