Ecclesiastes 3:16 (ASV)

Passage

And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

Nearby Context

Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.

Ecclesiastes 3:15 That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.

Ecclesiastes 3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

Ecclesiastes 3:17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said in my heart, [It is] because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are [but as] beasts.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "moreover", "under", "place", "justice", "wickedness", and "righteousness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "moreover" and "under", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "That which is hath been long ago..." into verse 17's "I said in my heart God will...", so "moreover" and "under" belong inside that flow. In Ecclesiastes context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "moreover" and "under" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.