Ecclesiastes 8:12
10 Then too, I saw the burial of the wicked who used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they had done so. This too is futile.
11 When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.
Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.
14 There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
- KJV
- Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
- WEB
- Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.
- ASV
- Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his [days], yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him:
- DARBY
- Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his [days], yet I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, because they fear before him;
- BLB
- Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and it is prolonged to him still, surely I know that there is good for those fearing God, who fear from before His face.
- ÅB
- fordi synderen hundre ganger gjør det som ondt er, og allikevel lever lenge; dog vet jeg jo at det skal gå gudfryktige vel, fordi de frykter Gud,
- OTB
- Selv om en synder gjør ondt hundre ganger og forlenger sitt liv, er jeg sikker på at det vil gå godt med dem som frykter Gud, som ærer Ham åpent.
- B1930
- fordi synderen hundre ganger gjør det som ondt er, og allikevel lever lenge; dog vet jeg jo at det skal gå gudfryktige vel, fordi de frykter Gud,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 37:11
But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
Read in contextLuke 1:50
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
Read in context2 Peter 2:9
if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
Read in contextPsalms 37:18–19
The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 7:15
In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 3:14
I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.
Read in contextIsaiah 3:10–11
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
Read in contextIsaiah 65:20–24
No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.
Read in context