Ecclesiastes 8:7-13
Christian Standard Bible
7 Yet no one knows what will happen(A) because who can tell him what will happen? 8 No one has authority over the wind[a] to restrain it,(B) and there is no authority over the day of death;(C) no one is discharged during battle, and wickedness will not allow those who practice it to escape. 9 All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one person has authority over another to his harm.
10 In such circumstances, I saw the wicked buried. They came and went from the holy place,(D) and they were praised[b] in the city where they did those things. This too is futile. 11 Because the sentence against an evil act is not carried out quickly,(E) the heart of people is filled with the desire to commit evil. 12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life,(F) I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people,(G) for they are reverent before him. 13 However, it will not go well with the wicked,(H) and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow,(I) for they are not reverent before God.
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Ecclesiastes 8:7-13
English Standard Version
7 For he (A)does not know what is to be, for (B)who can tell him how it will be? 8 No man has power to (C)retain the spirit, (D)or power over the day of death. There is no (E)discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9 (F)All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.
Those Who Fear God Will Do Well
10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of (G)the holy place and were (H)praised[a] in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.[b] 11 Because (I)the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, (J)the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and (K)prolongs his life, yet I know that (L)it will be well with (M)those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will (N)not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like (O)a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
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- 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)
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.