Ecclesiastes 7:14

In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Preacher addresses the reader in Ecclesiastes while reflecting on God's sovereign handling of human circumstances, immediately following a statement about God straightening what He has bent and preceding an observation on the unpredictable fate of the righteous and wicked (Ecclesiastes 7:13; 7:15).

The words — The Hebrew יוֹם (yom) marks the specific day of good (טוֹבָה/toVah) and the day of adversity (רָעָה/ra'Ah), while the imperative רְאֵה (re'eh) commands the reader to consider this paired reality.

The thread — This explicit pairing of opposing seasons aligns with the temporal framework of Ecclesiastes 3:4, the pragmatic acceptance of human limitation in Ecclesiastes 3:22, and the humbling purpose behind divine provision in Deuteronomy 8:3.

Why it lands — The text states that God deliberately arranged prosperity and hardship together, rendering humanity unable to discern what will follow, which requires the reader to accept current circumstances without demanding foresight or control.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

Cross-references

Ecclesiastes 3:4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
Ecclesiastes 3:22 I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?
Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
James 5:13 Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
Deuteronomy 28:47 Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart in all your abundance,
Isaiah 26:11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!
1 Kings 17:17 Later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill, and his sickness grew worse and worse, until no breath remained in him.
2 Chronicles 33:12 And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers.
Job 10:1 “I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul.