Ecclesiastes 8:7
For he is ignorant of the past, and he is able to know nothing of the future by means of a messenger.
Catholic Public Domain Version
In The King James Version
For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
In Context
6For every matter, there is a time and an opportunity, as well as many difficulties, for man.
Cross References
Esther 5:12And after this, he said, “Also, queen Esther has called no one else to the feast with the king, except me. And I will be dining with the king again tomorrow.
Proverbs 27:1Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what the future day may bring.
Ecclesiastes 3:22And I have discovered nothing to be better than for a man to rejoice in his work: for this is his portion. And who shall add to him, so that he may know the things that will occur after him?
Ecclesiastes 9:1I have drawn all these things through my heart, so that I might carefully understand. There are just men as well as wise men, and their works are in the hand of God. And yet a man does not know so much as whether he is worthy of love or of hatred.
Ecclesiastes 10:14The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
Matthew 24:50then the lord of that servant will arrive on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 8:7-9
The Certainty of Death. 6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? 8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. Solomon had said ( v. 5 ) that a wise man's heart discerns time and judgment, that is, a man's… Read the whole commentary →