Ecclesiastes 8 · Verse 13

Ecclesiastes 8:13

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.
Ecclesiastes 8:13, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 8:13 in other translations

BSBYet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.
WEBBut it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he lengthen days like a shadow, because he doesn’t fear God.
ASVbut 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.
YLTAnd good is not to the wicked, and he doth not prolong days as a shadow, because he is not fearing before God.
DARBYbut it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days as a shadow, because he feareth not before God.
BBEBut it will not be well for the evil-doer; he will not make his days long like a shade, because he has no fear before God.
WebsterBut it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

What does Ecclesiastes 8:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. 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 exercise to the faith, patience, and perseverance of saints. shadow--(Ec 6:12; Job 8:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 But 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 8:9-13

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 full comment on Ecclesiastes 8:9-13 →

Ecclesiastes 8:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְטוֹב֙ve.tOvand goodH2896
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
יִהְיֶ֣הyih.Yehit will belongH1961
לָֽרָשָׁ֔עla.ra.Sha'to the wickedH7563
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
יַאֲרִ֥יךְya.'a.Rikhhe will prolongH748
יָמִ֖יםya.MimdaysH3117
כַּצֵּ֑לka.Tzellike <the> shadowH6738
אֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherthatH834
אֵינֶ֥נּוּ'ei.Ne.nunot heH369
יָרֵ֖אya.Re'he has fearedH3373
מִלִּפְנֵ֥יmi.lif.Neifrom to beforeH6440
אֱלֹהִֽים\׃'E.lo.HimGodH430

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 8:13

  • Ecclesiastes 6:12

    For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  • Isaiah 3:11

    Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

  • Job 14:2

    He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

  • Malachi 3:18

    Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

  • Isaiah 57:21

    There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

  • Job 21:30

    That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

  • Psalms 144:4

    Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

  • Job 18:5

    Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.

  • Job 7:6-7

    My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope. O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

  • Psalms 39:5

    Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

  • Matthew 13:49-50

    So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

  • Psalms 11:5

    The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
it shall.
Job 18:5; 20:5; 21:30; Ps 11:5; Isa 57:21; Mal 3:18; Mt 13:49,50
Joh 5:29
neither.
Ps 55:23; Isa 30:13; 2Pe 2:3
as a.
6:12; Job 7:6,7; 14:2; Ps 39:5; 144:4; Jas 4:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 8:12

    Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

  • Ecclesiastes 8:13

    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.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:14

    There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 8

Ecclesiastes 8:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y que el impío no tendrá bien, ni le serán prolongados los días, que son como sombra; por cuanto no temió delante de la presencia de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais il n’y aura pas de bonheur pour le méchant, et il ne prolongera pas ses jours, comme l’ombre, parce qu’il ne craint pas la face de Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		aber dem Gesetzlosen wird es nicht wohlgehen, und er wird, dem Schatten gleich, seine Tage nicht verlängern, weil er sich vor Gott nicht fürchtet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Non sit bonum impio, nec prolongentur dies ejus, sed quasi umbra transeant qui non timent faciem Domini.