Ecclesiastes 8 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 8 ▼
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1 Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed. Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. Who <i>is</i> as the wise <i>man</i>? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. Who is like the wise person and who knows the meaning of a matter? A person’s wisdom illuminates his face and makes his stern face brighten up. Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.
2 Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God. I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him. I <i>counsel thee</i> to keep the king's commandment, and <i>that</i> in regard of the oath of God. I say, “Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God. Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God.
3 Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.” Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.
4 For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” Where the word of a king <i>is, there is</i> power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, “What are you doing?” Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
5 Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. One who keeps a <i>royal</i> command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
6 For there is a right time and procedure to every purpose, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him. For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man <i>is</i> great upon him. For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a person’s trouble is heavy upon him. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery.
7 Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come? For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen? Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come?
8 As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it. No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. <i>There is</i> no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither <i>hath he</i> power in the day of death: and <i>there is</i> no discharge in <i>that</i> war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. No one has authority over the wind to restrain the wind, nor authority over the day of death; and there is no <i>military</i> discharge in the time of war, and evil will not save those who practice it. As no one has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power over the time of their death. As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
9 All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment. All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt. All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: <i>there is</i> a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt. All this I have seen, and have applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun at a time when one person has exercised authority over <i>another</i> person to his detriment. All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt.
10 Then too, I saw the burial of the wicked who used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they had done so. This too is futile. Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this <i>is</i> also vanity. So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out of the holy place, and they are <i>soon</i> forgotten in the city where they did such things. This too is futility. Then too, I saw the wicked buried—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless.
11 When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil. Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of mankind among them are fully given to do evil. When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.
12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his <i>days</i> be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: Although a sinner does evil a hundred <i>times</i> and may lengthen his <i>life,</i> still I know that it will go well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.
13 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 with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God. But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong <i>his</i> days, <i>which are</i> as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. But it will not go well for the evil person and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear 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.
14 There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile. There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just <i>men</i>, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked <i>men</i>, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also <i>is</i> vanity. There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility. There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless.
15 So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun. And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun. Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a person under the sun except to eat, drink, and be joyful, and this will stand by him in his labor <i>throughout</i> the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.
16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth— though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night— When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one’s eyes see sleep, When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also <i>there is that</i> neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) When I devoted my mind to know wisdom and to see the business which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth—people getting no sleep day or night—
17 I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend. then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out. Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek <i>it</i> out, yet he shall not find <i>it</i>; yea further; though a wise <i>man</i> think to know <i>it</i>, yet shall he not be able to find <i>it</i>. and I saw every work of God, <i>I concluded</i> that one cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though a person laboriously seeks, he will not discover; and even if the wise person claims to know, he cannot discover. then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.
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