Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his life [seemingly] is prolonged [in spite of his wickedness], still I know that it will be well with those who [reverently] fear God, who fear and worship Him openly [realizing His omnipresence and His power]. [Ps 37:11, 18, 19; Is 3:10, 11; Matt 25:34] But it will not be well for the evil man, nor will he lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God. [Matt 25:41] There is a meaningless and futile thing which is done on the earth: that is, there are righteous men whose gain is as though they were evil, and evil men whose gain is as though they were righteous. I say that this too is futility (meaningless, vain). Then I commended pleasure and enjoyment, because a man [without God] has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and to be merry, for this will stand by him in his toil through the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to see the activities [of mankind] that take place upon the earth—how some men seem to sleep neither day nor night— and I saw all the work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though man may labor in seeking, he will not discover; and [more than that], though a wise man thinks and claims he knows, he will not be able to find it out. [Deut 29:29; Rom 11:33]
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Compare All Versions: Ecclesiastes 8:12-17
6 Days
We all want to live wisely. Sometimes, we need discernment for big decisions. Other times, we feel in over our heads and need insight for what to do next. And then there are the ordinary but confusing days when we just need practical advice or help getting unstuck. Thankfully, the Bible is full of principles for discerning God’s voice and offers a clear starting place for living a life of wisdom: the fear of the Lord.
9 Days
Wisdom inspires growth and builds up faith when we go through all kinds of circumstances in our everyday lives. In this devotional, we hope that you will be encouraged to grow in wisdom and understanding.
12 Days
God created us to find meaning in our lives. But we live in a broken world where we’re continually frustrated in our search. So, what’s the point of living life? This is the question the Teacher in Ecclesiastes is asking. At first, the message of this wisdom book seems to lead to despair, but in fact points to the hope of life found in God alone.
Written by an elderly King Solomon, Ecclesiastes reflects on a life of meaningless pursuits. Solomon writes that the world's pursuits, from wealth to self-indulgence, are vain and unfulfilling. Ecclesiastes determines that God and his presence make life fulfilling, and true wisdom is to fear God and keep his commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
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