Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 8:12–17

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. ¹³Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

¹⁴There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

¹⁵So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

¹⁶When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth — though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night — ¹⁷I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 8

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Ecclesiastes 8:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Although	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
a sinner	חֹטֶ֗א	ḥō·ṭe	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H2398 miss
does	עֹשֶׂ֥ה	‘ō·śeh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H6213 do, make
evil	רָ֛ע	rā‘	Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
a hundred	מְאַ֖ת	mə·’aṯ	Number - feminine singular construct	H3967 hundred
and still lives long	וּמַאֲרִ֣יךְ	ū·ma·’ă·rîḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H748 be long
yet	כִּ֚י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I	אָ֔נִי	’ā·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
also	גַּם־	gam-	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
know	יוֹדֵ֣עַ	yō·w·ḏê·a‘	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H3045 know
that	אֲשֶׁ֤ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
it will go	יִהְיֶה־	yih·yeh-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
well	טּוֹב֙	ṭō·wḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
with those who	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
fear	יִֽירְא֖וּ	yî·rə·’ū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3372 fear
God	הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים	hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
who are reverent	לְיִרְאֵ֣י	lə·yir·’ê	Preposition-l; Adjective - masculine plural construct	H3373 fear
in His presence	מִלְּפָנָֽיו׃	mil·lə·p̄ā·nāw	Preposition-m, Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singular	H6440 face, before

Ecclesiastes 8:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Yet because	אֲשֶׁ֛ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
do not	אֵינֶ֥נּוּ	’ê·nen·nū	Adverb; third person masculine singular	H369 nothing, nought
fear	יָרֵ֖א	yā·rê	Adjective - masculine singular	H3373 fear
God	אֱלֹהִֽים׃	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
it will not	לֹֽא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
go	יִהְיֶ֣ה	yih·yeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
well	וְטוֹב֙	wə·ṭō·wḇ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
with	לָֽרָשָׁ֔ע	lā·rā·šā‘	Preposition-l, Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7563 wicked, criminal
and their days	יָמִ֖ים	yā·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
will not	וְלֹֽא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
lengthen	יַאֲרִ֥יךְ	ya·’ă·rîḵ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H748 be long
like a shadow	כַּצֵּ֑ל	kaṣ·ṣêl	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6738 shadow

Ecclesiastes 8:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
There is	יֶשׁ־	yeš-	Adverb	H3426 being, substance, existence
a futility	הֶבֶל֮	he·ḇel	Noun - masculine singular	H1892 vapour, breath
that	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
is done	נַעֲשָׂ֣ה	na·‘ă·śāh	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the earth	הָאָרֶץ֒	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
There are	יֵ֣שׁ	yêš	Adverb	H3426 being, substance, existence
righteous	צַדִּיקִ֗ים	ṣad·dî·qîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H6662 just, righteous
who	אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
get	מַגִּ֤יעַ	mag·gî·a‘	Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H5060 touch, reach, strike
what the actions	כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה	kə·ma·‘ă·śêh	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4639 deed, work
of the wicked	הָרְשָׁעִ֔ים	hā·rə·šā·‘îm	Article; Adjective - masculine plural	H7563 wicked, criminal
and there are	וְיֵ֣שׁ	wə·yêš	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H3426 being, substance, existence
wicked	רְשָׁעִ֔ים	rə·šā·‘îm	Adjective - masculine plural	H7563 wicked, criminal
who	אֲלֵהֶ֖ם	’ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H413 motion to
get	שֶׁמַּגִּ֥יעַ	šem·mag·gî·a‘	Pronoun - relative; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H5060 touch, reach, strike
what the actions	כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה	kə·ma·‘ă·śêh	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4639 deed, work
of the righteous deserve	הַצַּדִּיקִ֑ים	haṣ·ṣad·dî·qîm	Article; Adjective - masculine plural	H6662 just, righteous
I say	אָמַ֕רְתִּי	’ā·mar·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H559 utter, say
that this	זֶ֖ה	zeh	Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
too	שֶׁגַּם־	šeg·gam-	Pronoun - relative; Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
is futile	הָֽבֶל׃	hā·ḇel	Noun - masculine singular	H1892 vapour, breath

Ecclesiastes 8:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So I	אֲנִי֙	’ă·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
commended	וְשִׁבַּ֤חְתִּֽי	wə·šib·baḥ·tî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H7623 soothe, still
the enjoyment of life	הַשִּׂמְחָ֔ה	haś·śim·ḥāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8057 joy, gladness, mirth
because	אֲשֶׁ֨ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
there is nothing	אֵֽין־	’ên-	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
better	ט֤וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
for a man	לָֽאָדָם֙	lā·’ā·ḏām	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind
under	תַּ֣חַת	ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition	H8478 the under part
the sun	הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ	haš·še·meš	Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun
than	כִּ֛י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
to eat	לֶאֱכ֥וֹל	le·’ĕ·ḵō·wl	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H398 eat
and drink	וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת	wə·liš·tō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8354 drink
and be merry	וְלִשְׂמ֑וֹחַ	wə·liś·mō·w·aḥ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8055 rejoice, be glad
For this	וְה֞וּא	wə·hū	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
will accompany him	יִלְוֶ֣נּוּ	yil·wen·nū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singular	H3867 join
in his labor	בַעֲמָל֗וֹ	ḇa·‘ă·mā·lōw	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H5999 trouble, labour, toil
during the days	יְמֵ֥י	yə·mê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H3117 day
of his life	חַיָּ֛יו	ḥay·yāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H2416 alive, living
that	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
God	הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים	hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
gives	נָֽתַן־	nā·ṯan-	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
him	ל֥וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
under	תַּ֥חַת	ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition	H8478 the under part
the sun	הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃	haš·šā·meš	Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun

Ecclesiastes 8:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When	כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
I applied	נָתַ֤תִּי	nā·ṯat·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H5414 give, put, set
my mind	לִבִּי֙	lib·bî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
to know	לָדַ֣עַת	lā·ḏa·‘aṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H3045 know
wisdom	חָכְמָ֔ה	ḥāḵ·māh	Noun - feminine singular	H2451 wisdom
and to observe	וְלִרְאוֹת֙	wə·lir·’ō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7200 see
the task	הָ֣עִנְיָ֔ן	hā·‘in·yān	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6045 occupation, task
that	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
one performs	נַעֲשָׂ֖ה	na·‘ă·śāh	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the earth	הָאָ֑רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
though	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
his eyes	בְּעֵינָ֖יו	bə·‘ê·nāw	Preposition-b; Noun - cdc; third person masculine singular	H5869 eye
do not	אֵינֶ֥נּוּ	’ê·nen·nū	Adverb; third person masculine singular	H369 nothing, nought
see	רֹאֶֽה׃	rō·’eh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H7200 see
sleep	שֵׁנָ֕ה	šê·nāh	Noun - feminine singular	H8142 sleep
in the day	בַּיּוֹם֙	bay·yō·wm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
or even in the night	וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה	ū·ḇal·lay·lāh	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity

Ecclesiastes 8:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I saw	וְרָאִיתִי֮	wə·rā·’î·ṯî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H7200 see
every	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
work	מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה	ma·‘ă·śêh	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4639 deed, work
of God	הָאֱלֹהִים֒	hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
and that	כִּי֩	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
a man	הָאָדָ֗ם	hā·’ā·ḏām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind
is unable	לֹ֨א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
to comprehend	לִמְצוֹא֙	lim·ṣō·w	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H4672 attain to, find
the work	הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂה֙	ham·ma·‘ă·śeh	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4639 deed, work
that	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
is done	נַעֲשָׂ֣ה	na·‘ă·śāh	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
under	תַֽחַת־	ṯa·ḥaṯ-	Preposition	H8478 the under part
the sun	הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ	haš·še·meš	Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun
Despite	בְּ֠שֶׁל	bə·šel	Preposition-b; Pronoun - relative
efforts	יַעֲמֹ֧ל	ya·‘ă·mōl	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5998 labour, toil
to search it out	לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ	lə·ḇaq·qêš	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H1245 seek
he cannot	וְלֹ֣א	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
find	יִמְצָ֑א	yim·ṣā	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4672 attain to, find
even	וְגַ֨ם	wə·ḡam	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
if	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
the wise	הֶֽחָכָם֙	he·ḥā·ḵām	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H2450 wise
man claims	יֹאמַ֤ר	yō·mar	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to know	לָדַ֔עַת	lā·ḏa·‘aṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H3045 know
he is unable	לֹ֥א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
to comprehend	לִמְצֹֽא׃	lim·ṣō	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H4672 attain to, find