Ecclesiastes 8:11

Ecclesiastes 8:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
• New Living Translation (NLT)When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:11

9All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt. 10Then too, I saw the wicked buried—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless. When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. 12Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. 13Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 word by word

אֲשֶׁר֙ אֵין־נַעֲשָׂ֣ה פִתְגָ֔ם מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה מְהֵרָ֑ה עַל־כֵּ֡ן מָלֵ֞א לֵ֧ב בְּֽנֵי־הָאָדָ֛ם בָּהֶ֖ם לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת רָֽע׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Because sentenceפִּתְגָּםpithgâm · edictH6599
• against an evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• workמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deedH4639
• is not executedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• speedilyמְהֵרָהmehêrâh · hasteH4120
• therefore the heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• of the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• is fully setמָלֵאmâlê' mâlâ' · to fillH4390
• evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:11

• Exodus 8:15But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.
• Job 21:11They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about.
• Psalms 10:6He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”
• Psalms 50:21When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.
• Isaiah 5:18Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes,
• Isaiah 26:10But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the Lord.
• Jeremiah 48:11“Moab has been at rest from youth, like wine left on its dregs, not poured from one jar to another— she has not gone into exile. So she tastes as she did, and her aroma is unchanged.
• Matthew 24:49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.
• Romans 2:4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
• 2 Peter 3:3Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
• Jeremiah 42:15then hear the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to settle there,

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Because sentence - פתגם pithgam, a Divine decree or declaration. This is no Hebrew, but a mere Chaldee word, and occurs only in the later books of the Bible - Esther, Ezra and Daniel, and nowhere else but in this place. Because God does not immediately punish every delinquency, men think he disregards evil acts; and therefore they are emboldened to sin on. So this longsuffering of God, which leadeth to repentance, is abused so as to lead to farther…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-13Verses 9-13 Solomon observed, that many a time one man rules over another to his hurt, and that prosperity hardens them in their wickedness. Sinners herein deceive themselves. Vengeance comes slowly, but it comes surely. A good man's days have some substance; he lives to a good purpose: a wicked man's days are all as a shadow, empty and worthless. Let us pray that we may view eternal things as near, real, and all-important.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-11In this world, unfairness often wins. It can be frustrating when bad people seem to succeed.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. The reason why the wicked persevere in sin: God's delay in judgment (Mt 24:48-51; 2Pe 3:8, 9). "They see not the smoke of the pit, therefore they dread not the fire" [South], (Psa 55:19). Joab's escape from the punishment of his murder of Abner, so far from "leading him to repentance," as it ought (Ro 2:4), led him to the additional murder of Amasa.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:11

• Depravity of Man
• God Continued...
• Heart
• Impenitence
• Punishment
• Security
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Discern
• Discharge
• Feel
• Hasty
• Heart
• Set
• Ecclesiastes, the Preacher
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings