Matthew Poole and continuators on Ecclesiastes 8:14

14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, but there be just men unto whom it hapneth according to the work of the wicked: again, there be wicked men to whom it hapneth according to the work of the righteous : I said, that this also is vanity .

Either by wicked Potentates, who do commonly advance unworthy men, and oppress Persons of greatest Virtue and merit: Or, by God's Providence, who sees it fit for many weighty Reasons so to manage the affairs of the present World.

i. e. The merit of their work, the work being oft put for the recompence given or belonging to it, as Levit. 19. 13. Iob 7. 2. Psal. 109. 20. The sense is, Who meets with such hard usage as the worst of men deserve.

Who, instead of those just and dreadful punishments which they deserve by the Laws of God and men, receive those encouragements and rewards which are due to virtuous and worthy men:

This is a very unreasonable and foolish thing, if it be considered without respect unto another life, as it is here, where Solomon is discoursing of the vanity of the present life, and of the impossibility of finding satisfaction and happiness in it.

Marginal references: Ps. 73. 14. Ch. 7. 15.