Ecclesiastes 8:11
New International Version
When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.

New Living Translation
When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.

English Standard Version
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

Berean Standard Bible
When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Because the 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.

New American Standard Bible
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of mankind among them are fully given to do evil.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.

Amplified Bible
Because the sentence against an evil act is not executed quickly, the hearts of the sons of men are fully set to do evil.

Christian Standard Bible
Because the sentence against an evil act is not carried out quickly, the heart of people is filled with the desire to commit evil.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Because the sentence against a criminal act is not carried out quickly, the heart of people is filled with the desire to commit crime.

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because punishment of evil doers is not done quickly, therefore the heart of sons of men is filled in them to do what is evil

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Because there is no contradiction made on the part of those who do evil quickly, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully determined in them to do evil.

Contemporary English Version
When we see criminals commit crime after crime without being punished, it makes us want to start a life of crime.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When a sentence against a crime isn't carried out quickly, people are encouraged to commit crimes.

Good News Translation
Why do people commit crimes so readily? Because crime is not punished quickly enough.

International Standard Version
Whenever a sentence for a crime is not carried out swiftly, the human mind becomes determined to commit evil.

JPS Tanakh 1917
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;

Literal Standard Version
Because sentence has not been done [on] an evil work speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of man is full within them to do evil.

Majority Standard Bible
When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.

New American Bible
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not promptly executed, the human heart is filled with the desire to commit evil—

NET Bible
When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime, the human heart is encouraged to do evil.

New Revised Standard Version
Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the human heart is fully set to do evil.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
Because sentence hath not been done on an evil work speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of man is full within them to do evil.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Fear God
10Then too, I saw the burial of the wicked who used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they had done so. This too is futile. 11When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil. 12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.…

Cross References
Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you to repentance?

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Exodus 34:6
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: "The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,

2 Samuel 11:15
In the letter he wrote: "Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed."

Psalm 10:6
He says to himself, "I will not be moved; from age to age I am free of distress."

Psalm 50:21
You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face.

Psalm 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

sentence

Exodus 8:15,32
But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said…

Job 21:11-15
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance…

Psalm 10:6
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

fully

Jeremiah 42:15
And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;

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Ecclesiastes 8
1. true wisdom is modest
2. Kings are to be respected
6. Divine providence is to be observed
12. It is better with the godly in adversity, than with the wicked in prosperity
16. The work of God is unsearchable














(11) Sentence.--This is a Persian word only found in Esther 1:20, and in Chaldee parts of Ezra and Daniel.

Verse 11. - The verse states one of the results of God's forbearance in punishing the evil. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily. The verse begins with asher," because," as in Ecclesiastes 4:3; Ecclesiastes 6:12, which connects the sentence with the allegation of vanity just preceding, as well as with what follows. Pithgam, "sentence," "edict," is a foreign word of Persian origin, found in Esther 1:20 and in Chaldee portions of Ezra (Ezra 4:17) and Daniel (Daniel 4:14, etc.). God seems to us to delay in punishing the guilty because we behold only one little portion of the course of his providence; could we take a more comprehensive view, anomalies would disappear, and we should see the end of these men (Psalm 73:17). But a contracted, skeptical view leads to two evils - first, a weakening of faith in God's moral government; and second, a miserable fatalism which denies man's responsibility and saps his energy. Of the former of these results Koheleth here treats. Therefore the heart of the sons of men. The heart is named as the seat of thought and the prime mover of action (comp. Ecclesiastes 9:3; Esther 7:5; Matthew 15:18, 19). Is fully set in them to do evil; literally, is full in them; i.e. their heart becomes filled with thoughts which are directed to evil, or full of courage, hence "emboldened" (Revised Version margin) to do evil. Vulgate, absque timore ullo filii hominum perpetrant mala; Septuagint, "Because there is no contradiction (ἀντίῥῤησις) made on the part of (ἀπὸ) those who do evil speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully persuaded (ἐπληροφορήθη) in them to do evil." The long-suffering of God, instead of leading such men to repentance, hardens them in their infidelity (Psalm 73:11). Primarily, the reference is still to tyrannical despots, who, in their seeming impunity, are em-boldened to pursue their evil course. But the statement is true generally. As Cicero says, "Quis ignorat maximam illecebram esse peccandi impunitatis spem?" ('Pro Milone,' 16.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When
אֲשֶׁר֙ (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the sentence
פִתְגָ֔ם (p̄iṯ·ḡām)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6599: An edict, decree

for a crime
הָרָעָ֖ה (hā·rā·‘āh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

is not
אֵין־ (’ên-)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

speedily
מְהֵרָ֑ה (mə·hê·rāh)
Adverb
Strong's 4120: A hurry, promptly

executed,
נַעֲשָׂ֣ה (na·‘ă·śāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

the hearts
לֵ֧ב (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

of men
הָאָדָ֛ם (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

become fully set
מָלֵ֞א (mā·lê)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

on doing
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

evil.
רָֽע׃ (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
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