Ecclesiastes 7:16 (DRB)

Passage

These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness.

Nearby Context

Ecclesiastes 7:14 Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.

Ecclesiastes 7:15 In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may not find against him any just complaint.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness.

Ecclesiastes 7:17 Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.

Ecclesiastes 7:18 Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "things", "days", "vanity", "just", "perisheth", "justice", "wicked", and "liveth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "things" and "days", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "In the good day enjoy good things..." into verse 17's "Be not over just and be not...", so "things" and "days" 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 "things" and "days" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.