Ecclesiastes 8:13

Ecclesiastes 8:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
• New International Version (NIV)Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:13

11When the sentence against a crime is not swiftly carried out, the human heart is encouraged to do evil. 12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and prolong his days, yet I know that it will be well for those who fear God, for those who revere Him. But it will not go well with the wicked, and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God. 14There is another enigma that occurs upon the earth: there are righteous people who are requited according to the work of the wicked, and there are wicked people who are requited according to the work of the righteous. I said, “This also is meaningless.” 15So I recommend enjoyment, because there is nothing better for humanity under the sun except to eat, drink and enjoy it. So this joy will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 8:13 word by word

וְטוֹב֙ לֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֣ה לָֽרָשָׁ֔ע וְלֹֽא־יַאֲרִ֥יךְ יָמִ֖ים כַּצֵּ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֛ר אֵינֶ֥נּוּ יָרֵ֖א מִלִּפְנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But it shall not be wellטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• with the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• neither shall he prolongאָרַךְ'ârak · to prolongH748
• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• as a shadowצֵלtsêl · shadowH6738
• because he fearethיָרֵאyârê' · afraidH3373
• not beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:13

• Job 18:5Indeed, the light of the wicked is snuffed out; the flame of his fire does not shine.
• Job 20:5that the triumph of the wicked is short and the joy of the godless is but for a moment?
• Job 21:30that the wicked are spared for the day of calamity that they are brought to the day of wrath?
• Psalms 11:5Adonai examines the righteous. But the wicked and one loving violence His soul hates.
• Isaiah 57:21“There is no shalom,” says my God “for the wicked.”
• Malachi 3:18Then you will return and distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”
• Matthew 13:49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth and separate the wicked from among the righteous
• John 5:29and come out! Those who have done good will come to a resurrection of life, and those who have done evil will come to a resurrection of judgment.
• Psalms 55:23Cast your burden on Adonai, and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken.
• Isaiah 30:13therefore this sin will be to you like a crack bulging in a high wall, about to fall— its collapse comes suddenly, in an instant!
• 2 Peter 2:3In their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
• Ecclesiastes 6:12For who knows what is good for one during his life—during the few days of his fleeting life—that pass like a shadow? For who can tell a person what happens after him under the sun?
• Job 7:6My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle and come to an end without hope.
• Job 14:2Like a flower he comes up and withers; like a shadow he flees and does not stay.
• Psalms 39:5“Let me know, Adonai, my end and what the number of my days is. Let me know how short-lived I am.
• Psalms 144:4Man is like a breath— his days are like a passing shadow.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13But it shall not be well with the wicked - Let not the long-spared sinner presume that, because sentence is not speedily executed on his evil works, and he is suffered to go on to his hundredth transgression, God has forgotten to punish. No, he feareth not before Good; and therefore he shall not ultimately escape.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. 12-13Injustice is temporary and does not disrupt God's plans for justice (Ecclesiastes 3:16–17; 12:14). In the end, wickedness does not succeed.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. neither shall he prolong--not a contradiction to Ec 8:12. The "prolonging" of his days there is only seeming, not real. Taking into account his eternal existence, his present days, however seemingly long, are really short. God's delay (Ec 8:11) exists only in man's short-sighted view. It gives scope to the sinner to repent, or else to fill up his full measure of guilt; and so, in either case, tends to the final vindication of God's ways. It gives…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:13

• Impenitence
• Punishment
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Discern
• Discharge
• Feel
• Hasty
• Heart
• Set
• Death
• Prolong

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