Ecclesiastes 8:10-17

Those Who Fear God Will Do Well

10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of ¹the holy place and were ²praised^[a] in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. ^[b]

11 Because ³the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, ⁴the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and ⁵prolongs his life, yet I know that ⁶it will be well with ⁷those who fear God, because they fear before him.

13 But it will ⁸not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like ⁹a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

Man Cannot Know God’s Ways

14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people ¹⁰to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people ¹¹to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

15 And I commend joy, for man ¹²has nothing better under the sun but to ¹³eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see ¹⁴the business that is done on earth, how neither ¹⁵day nor night do one’s eyes see sleep,

17 then I saw all the work of God, that ¹⁶man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, ¹⁷he cannot find it out.

Ecclesiastes 8:10-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 8

The preacher begins this chapter with the praise of wisdom, from its excellency and usefulness, Ec 8:1; and advises men, if they would live quietly and comfortably, to honour and obey the king that rules over them, and not be rebellious against him, since he has great power and authority, Ec 8:2-5; and not be anxious about things to come, since there is a set time for everything, and future things cannot be known nor frustrated; and, particularly, there is no avoiding the hour and stroke of death, Ec 8:6-8; Though there are times wherein wicked men rule over others, it is to their own hurt, and they must die; and though they may be pompously buried, yet are soon forgotten, Ec 8:9,10; and the reason of their insolence is the delay of justice; yet there will come a time when it shall be well with them that fear God, and ill with the wicked, though they may live long in wickedness; and for the present it may befall good then what wicked men deserve, and wicked men may have that which might, be thought more proper for good men, Ec 8:11-14; wherefore this should give no uneasiness; but men should cheerfully and freely enjoy what they have with thankfulness, there being nothing better than that under the sun, Ec 8:15; and the chapter is concluded with observing the unsearchableness of divine Providence, Ec 5:16,17.

Cross References

• 1. 8:10 [Neh. 11:1; Matt. 24:15]
• 2. 8:10 [ch. 9:5; Prov. 10:7]
• 3. 8:11 [Ps. 10:6; 50:21; Isa. 26:10; Rom. 2:4, 5; 2 Pet. 3:9]
• 4. 8:11 [Esth. 7:5; Acts 5:3]
• 5. 8:12 ch. 7:15; Isa. 65:20
• 6. 8:12 [Deut. 12:25; Isa. 3:10]
• 7. 8:12 [Ps. 37:11, 18, 19; Prov. 1:33; Matt. 25:34]
• 8. 8:13 Isa. 3:11
• 9. 8:13 ch. 6:12; See Job 14:2
• 10. 8:14 ch. 7:15; [Ps. 73:3]; See ch. 2:14
• 11. 8:14 [Job 21:7; Ps. 17:9, 10; 73:12; Jer. 12:1]
• 12. 8:15 See ch. 2:24
• 13. 8:15 1 Kgs. 4:20
• 14. 8:16 ch. 1:13; 3:10
• 15. 8:16 [Ps. 127:2]
• 16. 8:17 [Prov. 25:2]; See ch. 3:11
• 17. 8:17 [Ps. 73:16]

Footnotes

• [a] 8:10 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts 'forgotten'
• [b] 8:10 The Hebrew term 'hebel' can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also twice in verse 14 (see note on 1:2)