Ecclesiastes 8:7-13

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁷ Indeed, they do not know what is to be, for who can tell them how it will be?^{(A) 8} No one has power over the wind^[a] to restrain the wind^[b] or power over the day of death; there is no discharge from the battle, nor does wickedness deliver those who practice it.^{(B) 9} All this I observed, applying my mind to all that is done under the sun, while one person exercises authority over another to the other’s hurt.^(C)

God’s Ways Are Inscrutable

¹⁰ Then I saw the wicked approaching to sacrifice;^[c] they go in and out of the holy place, and they boast^[d] in the city that they have done such things. This also is vanity. ¹¹ Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the human heart is fully set to do evil. ¹² Though sinners do evil a hundred times and prolong their lives, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they stand in fear before him,^{(D) 13} but it will not be well with the wicked, neither will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God.^(E)