Ecclesiastes 8:13

But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they ¹  prolong their ²  days like a shadow, ³  because they ⁴  do not stand in fear ⁵  before God.

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

But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.

The wicked will never live long, good lives, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows.

and that the evil person will not experience a "good" life. No matter how many days he lives, they'll all be as flat and colorless as a shadow--because he doesn't fear God.

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.

but it will not be well with the wicked, neither will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God.

But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they ¹  prolong their ²  days like a shadow, ³  because they ⁴  do not stand in fear ⁵  before God.

¹ tn Heb “he.”

² tn The word “their” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness.

³ tn The phrase “like a shadow” (כַּצֵּל, katsel) modifies the verb (“prolong”) rather than the noun (“days”). Several English versions misconstrue the line: “he will not prolong his days, [which are] like a shadow” (KJV, ASV); “the man who does not fear God is like a shadow” (NEB); and “he will not prolong his shadowy days” (NAB). It should be rendered “he will not prolong his days like a shadow” (RSV, NRSV, NASB, MLB, NIV). Unlike a shadow that lengthens at sunset, the wicked do not normally live long.

⁴ tn Heb “he.”

⁵ tn Heb “they do not fear.”