Read & explore together
Fear God
This passage names something hard to watch: wicked people are buried and forgotten, evil is not judged quickly, and sinners may seem to go on for a long time. Even so, the speaker says it is better to fear God.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
These verses are wisdom and dialogue built from observation and conclusion. The speaker tells what he has seen, explains one effect of delayed sentence against evil, and then sets two outcomes side by side: better for those who fear God, not well for the wicked.
Ecclesiastes 8:10–13Main takeaway
When evil appears to continue, this passage still says that reverence before God is better than wickedness.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A hard thing to seeThe speaker starts with an observation: he saw the wicked buried, and they were forgotten in the city where they had done these things.
Explanation
The speaker starts with an observation: he saw the wicked buried, and they were forgotten in the city where they had done these things. The verse also mentions holiness, but this passage does not explain that detail further. After seeing this, the speaker says, “This also is vanity.”
02When judgement is delayedVerse 11 gives a reason evil can grow bolder. If sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, human hearts can become fully set on doing evil.
Explanation
Verse 11 gives a reason evil can grow bolder. If sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, human hearts can become fully set on doing evil. The verse does not approve that response. It describes how delay in judgement can affect people’s willingness to keep doing wrong.
03A sure statement about fearing GodThe speaker admits that a sinner may commit crimes many times and live long. Yet he says something he knows surely: it will be better with those who fear God.
Explanation
The speaker admits that a sinner may commit crimes many times and live long. Yet he says something he knows surely: it will be better with those who fear God. The verse explains this fear as being reverent before him, showing respect toward God rather than disregard.
04The closing contrastThe final verse states the opposite outcome for the wicked. It shall not be well with him, and he will not lengthen days like a shadow.
Explanation
The final verse states the opposite outcome for the wicked. It shall not be well with him, and he will not lengthen days like a shadow. The reason given is clear in the verse itself: he does not fear God. The passage ends by making reverence before God the key contrast.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the speaker say he saw in the city, and what does he call it?
Look at the words about the wicked being buried and forgotten, then notice that the speaker says, “This also is vanity.”
02According to this passage, what can happen when sentence against evil is not executed speedily?
Answer with the wording of the verse about the heart of the sons of men being fully set in them to do evil.
03How does the passage contrast those who fear God with the wicked?
Compare “it will be better” for those who fear God with “it shall not be well” for the wicked, and include the reason given.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ecclesiastes 8:10–13
10So I saw the wicked buried. Indeed they came also from holiness. They went and were forgotten in the city where they did this. This also is vanity.
11Because 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.
12Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.
13But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he lengthen days like a shadow, because he doesn’t fear God.