Ecclesiastes 8 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Keep the Command of the King

Who^H4310 is like the wise^H2450 man^H2450 and who^H4310 knows^H3045 the interpretation^H6592 of a matter^H1697? A man’s^H120 wisdom^H2451 illumines^H215 his face^H6440 and causes his stern^H5797 face^H6440 to [fn]beam^H8132.

Ecc 8:2

I say, “Keep^H8104 the [fn]command^H6310 of the king^H4428 because^H5921^H1697 of the sworn^H7621 oath^H7621 [fn]before God^H430.

Ecc 8:3

Ecc 8:3“Do not be in a hurry to go from his presence. Do not stand in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.”

Ecc 8:4

Ecc 8:4Since the word of the king is powerful, who will say to him, “What are you doing?”

Ecc 8:5

He who keeps^H8104 a royal command^H4687 experiences^H3045 no^H3808 evil^H7451 thing^H1697, for a wise^H2450 heart^H3820 knows^H3045 the proper time^H6256 and custom^H4941.

Ecc 8:6

Ecc 8:6For there is a proper time and custom for every [fn]matter, though a man’s trouble is multiplied upon him.

Ecc 8:7

Ecc 8:7If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?

Ecc 8:8

Ecc 8:8There is no man who has power to restrain the wind with the wind, and there is none who has power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and wickedness will not provide escape to its masters.

Ecc 8:9

Ecc 8:9All this I have seen and given my heart to every work that has been done under the sun wherein a man has power over another man to his calamity.

Ecc 8:10

So^H3651 then, I have seen^H7200 the wicked^H7563 buried^H6912, those who used to go^H935 in^H935 and out from the holy^H6918 place^H4725, and they are soon forgotten^H7911 in the city^H5892 where^H834 they did^H6213 thus^H3651. This^H2088 too^H1571 is vanity^H1892.

Ecc 8:11

Ecc 8:11Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.

Ecc 8:12

Ecc 8:12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may prolong his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear [fn]Him openly.

Ecc 8:13

Ecc 8:13But it will not be well for the wicked man, and he will not prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear [fn]God openly.

Ecc 8:14

There^H3426 is^H3426 vanity^H1892 which^H834 is done^H6213 on the earth^H776, that is, there^H3426 are^H3426 righteous^H6662 men^H6662 to whom^H834 it [fn]happens^H5060 according to the works^H4639 of the wicked^H7563. On the other hand, there^H3426 are^H3426 wicked^H7563 men^H7563 to whom^H7945 it [fn]happens^H5060 according to the works^H4639 of the righteous^H6662. I say^H559 that this^H2088 too^H1571 is vanity^H1892.

Ecc 8:15

Ecc 8:15So I laud gladness, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to [fn]be merry, and this will join with him in his labor throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

Ecc 8:16

When^H834 I gave^H5414 my heart^H3820 to know^H3045 wisdom^H2451 and to see^H7200 the endeavor^H6045 which^H834 has been done^H6213 on the earth^H776 (even^H1571 though^H3588 one^H369 never^H369 sees^H7200 sleep^H8142 with his eyes^H5869 day^H3117 or night^H3915),

Ecc 8:17

Ecc 8:17and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot find out the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not find it out; and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot find it out.