Contradiction with Psalm 34:19
This verse contradicts Ecclesiastes 7:15 by stating that the righteous face many afflictions, but God delivers them from all, implying divine intervention in contrast to observable outcomes.
Psalm 34:19: Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Contradiction with Proverbs 11:8
This verse suggests that the righteous is delivered from trouble, contradicting Ecclesiastes 7:15 which observes the opposite.
Proverbs 11:8: The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
Contradiction with Proverbs 13:21
This verse claims that evil pursues sinners while good rewards the righteous, which contradicts the idea in Ecclesiastes 7:15 that bad things also happen to the righteous.
Proverbs 13:21: Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
Contradiction with Job 36:11
This verse promises prosperity for those who obey and serve God, a concept contradicted by the observation in Ecclesiastes 7:15 of righteous suffering.
Job 36:11: If they obey and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
Contradiction with Psalm 37:25
This verse suggests that the righteous are never forsaken and always have their needs met, contradicting Ecclesiastes 7:15 which acknowledges adversity for the righteous.
Psalm 37:25: I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Paradox #1
Ecclesiastes 7:15 highlights the puzzling reality where righteous people suffer and wicked people prosper. This can seem like a contradiction because many other parts of the Bible suggest that righteousness leads to blessings and wickedness leads to suffering. This inconsistency raises questions about justice and fairness in life.
Paradox #2
Ecclesiastes 7:15 expresses a puzzling observation about life: sometimes good people suffer and bad people prosper. This seems to contradict other parts of the Bible that suggest good behavior leads to rewards and bad behavior results in punishment. This can create confusion about how justice works in the world.
Paradox #3
Ecclesiastes 7:15 can be seen as contradictory because it talks about how sometimes good people suffer while bad people prosper, which seems to conflict with other parts of the Bible that suggest that good will be rewarded and evil punished.
Paradox #4
Ecclesiastes 7:15 might be seen as conflicting with certain scientific understandings because it suggests that righteous behavior doesn't always lead to longevity or success, while wickedness doesn't always result in a short life or downfall. This can be inconsistent with scientific principles that suggest actions have predictable consequences based on empirical evidence. For instance, living a healthy and virtuous lifestyle typically increases life expectancy based on scientific studies, while engaging in harmful behaviors is generally linked to negative outcomes. The verse's observation can seem at odds with this cause-and-effect framework.
Paradox #5
Ecclesiastes 7:15 highlights the perplexing issue where good people may suffer while bad people prosper. The contradiction here is the apparent unfairness or inconsistency in how good and bad outcomes are distributed among people, contrasting with the traditional belief that doing good leads to good results, and doing bad leads to bad results.