Ecclesiastes 8:7-13

International Standard Version

⁷ For he has absolutely no knowledge what will happen, since who can declare to him when it will come about? ⁸ Just as no human being has control over the wind^[a] to restrain it, so also no human being has control over the day of his death. Just as no one is discharged during war, so wickedness will not release those who practice^[b] it.

⁹ I observed all this, and carefully considered everything that is undertaken on earth, especially the time when someone dominates another to his detriment. ¹⁰ So I watched the wicked being entombed. They used to come in and out of the Holy Place,^[c] but now they are forgotten in the city, where they used to work. This, too, is pointless.

The Wisdom of Fearing God

¹¹ Whenever a sentence for a crime is not carried out swiftly, the human mind^[d] 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^[e] like a shadow, since he has no fear before God.