Ecclesiastes 8:11

Because 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. BECAUSE SENTENCE AGAINST AN EVIL WORK ... The reason why the wicked persevere in sin: God's delay in judgment (; 2 Peter 3:8). 'They see not the smoke of the pit, therefore they dread not the fire' (South). (.) Joab's escape from the punishment of his murder of Abner, so far from "leading him to repentance," as it ought (), led him to the additional murder of Amasa. Hengstenberg, on account of the Hebrew accents, translates, 'Because a sentence is not pronounced, the work of wickedness hasteneth.'...

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....

Verse Ecclesiastes 8:11. _BECAUSE SENTENCE_] פתגם _pithgam_, a _Divine decree_ or _declaration_. This is no _Hebrew_, but a mere _Chaldee_ word, and occurs only in the _later books_ of the Bible - _Esther, Ezra_ and _Daniel_, and nowhere else but in this place. Because God does not immediately punish every delinquency, men think he disregards evil acts; and therefore they are emboldened to sin on. So this longsuffering of God, which _leadeth to repentance_, is abused so as to _lead to farther crimes_! When men sin against the remedy of their salvation, how can they escape perdition?...

EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 8:1 Section 5. There is no use in repining or rebelling; _true wisdom counsels obedience to the powers that be_,_ and submission to the dispensations of Providence_._ _However oppressive a tyrant may prove sure retribution awaits him. ECCLESIASTES 8:1 WHO IS AS THE WISE MAN?_ i_._e_._ _Who is like, equal to, the wise man? The somewhat sudden question occurs naturally after the results of the search for wisdom mentioned at the end of the last chapter. The thought is not, as in Hosea 14:9 and...

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" n; 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...

CHAPTER 8 _ 1. Prudence before kings (Ecclesiastes 8:1)_ 2. Of the righteous and the wicked (Ecclesiastes 8:11) 3. The conclusion (Ecclesiastes 8:14) Ecclesiastes 8:1. What else had he seen? What were his further discoveries? He is still ardent in praising wisdom, though he had confessed “that it was far from him.” Wisdom makes the face to shine and the boldness of the face becomes changed. He cautions as to the governmental powers in the world, urges prudence and submission. He is a keen observer. But nothing can deliver from the power of the grave. The tyrannic rul

THE ONE END OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. The good are soon forgotten, the wicked enjoy honour and long life; the best thing a man can do is to enjoy life while he has it. Ecclesiastes 8:10 is difficult, MT is probably corrupt. RV is a fair attempt; others would emend so as to read, I saw the wicked buried, carried even from the sanctuary, and they used to go about and be praised in the city because they had done so (_i.e._ used their power to hurt others; _cf._ Ecclesiastes 8:9). This excludes all mention of the righteous and their shameful exclusion from the holy place, which in any case cannot be interpreted as consecrated burial ground. Ecclesiastes 8:12

_Because sentence against an evil work_ The word for "sentence" is only found here and in Esther 1:20, where it is translated "decree" and is probably of Persian origin. Its primary meaning seems to be "a thing sent" and so the king's missive or edict. The point of the reflection is that the anomaly noted in the previous verse was not only evil in itself, but the cause of further evil by leading men to think they could go on transgressing with impunity. _is fully set in them to do evil_ Literally, THEIR HEART IS FULL IN THEM....

DISCOURSE: 838 MAN’S ABUSE OF GOD’S PATIENCE Ecclesiastes 8:11. _Because 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_. SIN is in itself an evil of a crimson dye; nevertheless its malignity may be greatly increased by the aggravations with which it is attended. One can scarcely conceive any thing that can enhance its guilt so much, as the committing of it in hopes that God’s mercy will pardon it. Yet this is the very ground on which the world indulge themselves in the commission of it. “Because,” &c. I. The extent of man’s wickedness— That sin exists in the world is visible to all; but the degree in which it prevails is very little known. In what way men sin, we may judge from the exceeding depth of colouring which there is in the picture before us. They sin, 1

2. Work even when one discovers the oppression of the righteous. Ecclesiastes 8:9-13 TEXT 8:9-13 9 All this I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt. 10 So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out from the holy place, and they are soon forgotten in the city where they did thus. This too is futility. 11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil. 12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. 13 But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, becaus