Ecclesiastes 8:12-17

12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may ¹lengthen his life, still * I know that it will be ²well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly *.

13 But it will ³not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a ⁴shadow, because he does not fear God.

14 There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are ⁵righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are ⁶evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility.

15 So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for ⁷a man under the sun except * to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

16 When I ⁸gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should ⁹never sleep * * day or night ),

17 and I saw every work of God, I concluded that ¹⁰man cannot * discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though * man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and ¹¹though the wise man should say, "I know," he cannot * discover.

Ecclesiastes 8:12-17 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. Ecclesiastes 7:15
• 2. Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 12:25; Psalms 37:11; Proverbs 1:33; Isaiah 3:10
• 3. Ecclesiastes 8:8; Isaiah 3:11
• 4. Job 14:2; Ecclesiastes 6:12
• 5. Psalms 73:14; Ecclesiastes 7:15
• 6. Job 21:7; Psalms 73:3, 12; Jeremiah 12:1; Malachi 3:15
• 7. Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 3:12, 13; Ecclesiastes 5:18; Ecclesiastes 9:7
• 8. Ecclesiastes 1:13, 14
• 9. Ecclesiastes 2:23
• 10. Ecclesiastes 3:11
• 11. Psalms 73:16; Ecclesiastes 7:23; Romans 11:33

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "before Him"
• [b] Lit "strikes"
• [c] Lit "strikes"
• [d] Lit "labor"
• [e] Lit "see no sleep in his eyes"