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. NEITHER SHALL HE PROLONG - not a contradiction to . 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 () 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. WHICH ARE AS A SHADOW - (;...

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 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 God_; and therefore he shall not ultimately escape....

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...

BUT IT SHALL NOT BE WELL WITH THE WICKED,.... It shall be ill with him; more is designed than is expressed, Isaiah 3:11; in life they have no solid peace and comfort; at death they will be turned into at judgment they will hear the awful sentence, "Go, ye cursed", and will be in torment to all eternity, Matthew 25:41; NEITHER SHALL HE PROLONG [HIS] DAYS, [WHICH ARE] AS A SHADOW: wicked men sometimes do not live out half their days, which, according to the course of nature, and common term of life, they might be thought to live; or if they prolong their days in wickedness, as sometimes they do, Ecclesiastes 7:15; yet their days at longest are but a shadow which declines, and is quickly gone; or,

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

_neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow_ The words seem at first in direct contradiction to the admission of the previous verse. But it is of the nature of the method of the book to teach by paradoxes, and to let the actual contradictions of the world reflect themselves in his teaching. What is meant is that the wicked does not gain by a prolonged life; that, as Isaiah had taught of old, "the sinner though he die a hundred years old, is as one accursed" (Isaiah 65:20). His life is still a shadow and "he disquieteth himself in vain" (Psalms 39:6). So the writer of the _Wisdom of Solomon_(Ecclesiastes 4:8) writes, probably not without a reference to this very passage, that "honourable age is not that

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

8:13 shadow, (c-18) Psalms 102:11 ; Psalms 109:23 ....