Ecclesiastes 8:11 bbe — Because punishment for an evil work comes not quickly, the minds of the sons of men are fully given to doing evil.

Bible in Basic English

"Because punishment for an evil work comes not quickly, the minds of the sons of men are fully given to doing evil."

— Ecclesiastes 8:11, Bible in Basic English

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Ecclesiastes 8:11 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 8 — Context

8

No man has authority over the wind, to keep the wind; or is ruler over the day of his death. In war no man's time is free, and evil will not keep the sinner safe.

9

All this have I seen, and have given my heart to all the work which is done under the sun: there is a time when man has power over man for his destruction.

10

And then I saw evil men put to rest, taken even from the holy place; and they went about and were praised in the town because of what they had done. This again is to no purpose.

11

Because punishment for an evil work comes not quickly, the minds of the sons of men are fully given to doing evil.

12

Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his life is long, I am certain that it will be well for those who go in fear of God and are in fear before him.

13

But 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.

14

There is a thing which is to no purpose done on the earth: that there are good men to whom is given the same punishment as those who are evil, and there are evil men who get the reward of the good. I say that this again is to no purpose.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 8:11 say?
Ecclesiastes 8:11 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “Because punishment for an evil work comes not quickly, the minds of the sons of men are fully given to doing evil.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 8:11 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 8:11 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 8, verse 11.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 8:11.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 8:11 in?
Ecclesiastes 8:11 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 8:11?
Ecclesiastes 8:11 reads (BBE): “Because punishment for an evil work comes not quickly, the minds of the sons of men are fully given to doing evil.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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