Ecclesiastes 7:13-15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
13 Consider the work of God. Who can make straight what God has made crooked?(A) 14 On a good day enjoy good things, and on an evil day consider: Both the one and the other God has made, so that no one may find the least fault with him.
Critique of Sages on Justice and Wickedness. 15 [a]I have seen all manner of things in my vain days: the just perishing in their justice, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
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- 7:15–24 The author continues both to affirm and to counter traditional wisdom. He affirms a certain validity to wisdom, but challenges complacency and mindless optimism. His sense of life’s uncertainty and insecurity finds expression, for example, in the irony evident when v. 16 is read in the light of vv. 20–24: How can one be “excessively” just or wise, when justice and wisdom may be out of reach to begin with? The only sure thing is to “fear God” (v. 18).
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