Passage

When punishment is delayed

Source and translation

World English Bible, Protestant Edition · Public domain · en

¹²Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.

Ecclesiastes 8:12World English Bible, Protestant Edition

The scene

The speaker describes a sinner doing wrong a hundred times and living long, yet affirms that it will go better for those who fear God.

To understand

The preceding sentence says a delayed sentence encourages people to do evil. The speaker's judgment therefore appears beside an observation that wrongdoing can persist without prompt punishment.

A question

What tension exists between the delayed sentence and the judgment the speaker affirms?