Ecclesiastes 8:10-17
English Standard Version
Those Who Fear God Will Do Well
10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of (A)the holy place and were (B)praised[a] in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.[b] 11 Because (C)the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, (D)the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and (E)prolongs his life, yet I know that (F)it will be well with (G)those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will (H)not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like (I)a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Man Cannot Know God's Ways
14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people (J)to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people (K)to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 And I commend joy, for man (L)has nothing better under the sun but to (M)eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.
16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see (N)the business that is done on earth, how neither (O)day nor night do one's eyes see sleep, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that (P)man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, (Q)he cannot find it out.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 8:10 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts forgotten
- Ecclesiastes 8:10 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also twice in verse 14 (see note on 1:2)
Ecclesiastes 8:10-17
New International Version
10 Then too, I saw the wicked buried(A)—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise[a] in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless.
11 When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. 12 Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better(B) with those who fear God,(C) who are reverent before him.(D) 13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God,(E) it will not go well with them, and their days(F) will not lengthen like a shadow.
14 There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve.(G) This too, I say, is meaningless.(H) 15 So I commend the enjoyment of life(I), because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink(J) and be glad.(K) Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.
16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom(L) and to observe the labor that is done on earth(M)—people getting no sleep day or night— 17 then I saw all that God has done.(N) No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.(O)
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 8:10 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (Aquila); most Hebrew manuscripts and are forgotten
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