16 Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is (A)wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. 17 I said [a]to myself, “(B)God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a (C)time for every [b]matter and for every deed is there. 18 I said [c]to myself concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but (D)beasts.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 3:17 Lit in my heart
  2. Ecclesiastes 3:17 Or delight
  3. Ecclesiastes 3:18 Lit in my heart

16 And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
    in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

17 I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment(A)
    both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
    a time to judge every deed.”(B)

18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.(C)

Read full chapter