Ecclesiastes 8:11-13

International Standard Version

The Wisdom of Fearing God

¹¹ Whenever a sentence for a crime is not carried out swiftly, the human mind^[a] becomes determined to commit evil. ¹² Even though a sinner does what is wrong a hundred times and still survives, nevertheless I also know that things will go well for those who fear God, who fear in his presence. ¹³ But things will not go well for the wicked person: he will not lengthen his life^[b] like a shadow, since he has no fear before God.