Contradiction with Matthew 7:7
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Encourages persistence in seeking and receiving, unlike the predetermined giving in Ecclesiastes 2:26.
Matthew 7:7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Contradiction with Psalm 37:4
"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." This suggests rewards based on devotion, contrary to Ecclesiastes 2:26 which speaks of allocation without the concept of personal desire fulfillment.
Psalm 37:4: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Contradiction with Romans 2:6
"Who will render to every man according to his deeds." This verse emphasizes action and consequence based on one's deeds, unlike the distribution of wisdom, knowledge, and joy depicted in Ecclesiastes 2:26.
Romans 2:6: Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Contradiction with James 1:5
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Indicates wisdom is given to those who seek, contrasting the preordained giving from Ecclesiastes 2:26.
James 1:5: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Paradox #1
Ecclesiastes 2:26 could be seen as inconsistent with the idea of God's fairness and love for everyone. The verse suggests that God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to those who please Him, but burden to sinners. This could seem unfair because it implies that benefits are distributed based on pleasing God, which might not align with the belief of God's unconditional love and grace for all people.
Paradox #2
Ecclesiastes 2:26 suggests that God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to those who please Him, while the task of gathering and storing up wealth is given to sinners, only for it to eventually be given to those who please God. A potential inconsistency could be the notion of fairness and the idea of divine reward and punishment not aligning with other themes in the Bible, such as grace, mercy, and the idea that God's blessings are not always tied to one's actions. This might seem conflicting with the view that blessings and prosperity are based on God's unconditional grace rather than human behavior.
Paradox #3
Ecclesiastes 2:26 suggests that God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to those who please Him, while sinners receive the task of gathering and storing wealth to later be given to those who please God. A possible contradiction or inconsistency might be seen when comparing this idea to real-life observations where people who do not follow religious paths or commit wrongdoings often still hold wealth and success, and it does not necessarily transfer to those perceived as righteous or godly. This could be seen as conflicting with the verse's implication that wealth will eventually be given to those who please God.
Paradox #4
The contradiction or conflict in this verse could be that it suggests contrasting outcomes for different people based on divine favor. It implies that those who please God receive wisdom and knowledge, while sinners' efforts are ultimately in vain and benefit others. This might seem inconsistent with the idea of fairness or justice, as it frames life outcomes as reliant on divine preference rather than individual actions alone.