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If no one (A)knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen? (B)There is no man who has power to restrain the wind with the wind, and there is none who has power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and (C)wickedness will not provide escape to its masters. All this I have seen and given my heart to every work that has been done under the sun wherein a man has (D)power over another man to his calamity.

10 So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out from the holy place, and they are (E)soon forgotten in the city where they did thus. This too is vanity. 11 Because the (F)sentence against an evil work is not executed quickly, therefore (G)the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil. 12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may (H)prolong his life, still I know that it will be (I)well for those who fear God, who fear [a]Him openly. 13 But it will (J)not be well for the wicked man, and he will not prolong his days like a (K)shadow, because he does not fear [b]God openly.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 8:12 Lit before Him
  2. Ecclesiastes 8:13 Lit before Him

If no one (A)knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen? (B)No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and (C)evil will not deliver [a]those who practice it. All this I have seen and applied my [b]mind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised (D)authority over another man to his hurt.

10 So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out from the holy place, and they are (E)soon forgotten in the city where they did thus. This too is futility. 11 Because the (F)sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore (G)the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil. 12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may (H)lengthen his life, still I know that it will be (I)well for those who fear God, who fear [c]Him openly. 13 But it will (J)not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a (K)shadow, because he does not fear God.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 8:8 Lit its possessors
  2. Ecclesiastes 8:9 Lit heart
  3. Ecclesiastes 8:12 Lit before Him