Ecclesiastes 8:7-13

Evangelical Heritage Version

⁷ But no one knows what will be. Indeed, who can tell him what will be?^{[a] 8} As no one has power to restrain the wind, there is no power over the day of death. No discharge is granted during war, and wickedness will not deliver those who practice it.

Life Is Not Fair

⁹ All this I saw while I was applying my heart to every work done under the sun, during this time when one man has power over another to harm him.^{[b] 10} While doing this, I have seen wicked people buried. They had come and gone from the holy place, and they were praised^[c] in the city where they had done so! This too is vapor.

¹¹ When the sentence for a crime is not carried out quickly, people’s hearts are emboldened to do evil.

¹² Though a sinner commits a hundred crimes and lives for a long time,^[d] I nevertheless know that it will turn out well for those who fear God, who stand in awe before him. ¹³ But it will not be good for the wicked. Such a man will not lengthen his days like a shadow, since he does not stand in fear before God.