Ecclesiastes 8:11

Although Evil is Not Punished Swiftly, God Does Eventually Punish Sinners

11 Because sentence against an evil deed is not carried out quickly, the heart of {humans} fills up within them to do evil.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 8:11

Because sentence [against] an evil work is not executed
speedily
Any evil work done by magistrates, or others, against which the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, and is threatened with his vengeance; the decree is gone forth, the sentence is passed, God is determined upon punishment; but there is a delay of it, he exercises patience and longsuffering to answer some end of his, both towards his own people and the wicked; as well as to display some of his own perfections; but because so it is, the judgment comes not at once; therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do
evil;
or their "heart is full to do evil" ^F14; they have not only a fulness of sin in them naturally as is in every man's heart; but they are filled with resolution, boldness, and courage, to commit sin, promising themselves impurity from the seeming delay of justice; such an abuse do they make of the patience and forbearance of God; they become more and more hardened in sin and bent upon the commission of it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (er twvel alm) "plenum ad faciendum malum", Pagninus, Montanus; "praegnano ad faciendum malum", Gussetius, p. 469.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 In-Context

9 I saw all this as I applied my heart to all the deeds done under the sun: {sometimes those in authority harm others}.

10 Meanwhile, I saw the wicked being [honorably] buried, but those who came and went from the holy place were forgotten in the city, even though they had done so. This also [is] vanity!

11 Because sentence against an evil deed is not carried out quickly, the heart of {humans} fills up within them to do evil.

12 Although the sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I also know that it will be good for those who fear God--because they fear {his presence}.

13 But it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not prolong [their] days, like the shadow; because there is no fearing {God's presence}.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "the sons of the man"