2 To obey Princes and Magistrates. 17 The works of God pass man’s knowledge.

Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? the wisdom of a man doth make his face [a]to shine: and [b]the strength of his face shall be changed.

I advertise thee to take heed to the [c]mouth of the king, and to the word of the oath of God.

[d]Haste not to go forth of his sight: stand not in an evil thing: for he will do whatsoever pleaseth him.

Where the word of the King is, there is power, and who shall say unto him, What doest thou?

He that keepeth the commandment, shall know none evil thing, and the heart of the wise shall know the [e]time, and judgment.

For to every purpose there is a time and judgment, because the [f]misery of man is great upon him.

For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

Man is not Lord [g]over the spirit to retain the spirit: neither hath he power in the day of death, nor deliverance in the battle, neither shall wickedness deliver the possessors thereof.

All this have I seen, and have given mine heart to every work which is wrought under the sun, and I saw a time that man ruleth over man to his own [h]hurt.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 8:1 That is, doth get him favor and prosperity.
  2. Ecclesiastes 8:1 Whereas before he was proud and arrogant, he shall become humble and meek.
  3. Ecclesiastes 8:2 That is, that thou obey the king and keep the oath that thou hast made for the same cause.
  4. Ecclesiastes 8:3 Withdraw not thyself lightly from the obedience of thy prince.
  5. Ecclesiastes 8:5 That is, when time is to obey, and how far he should obey.
  6. Ecclesiastes 8:6 Man of himself is miserable, and therefore ought to do nothing to increase the same, but to work all things by wisdom and counsel.
  7. Ecclesiastes 8:8 Man hath no power to save his own life, and therefore must not rashly cast himself into danger.
  8. Ecclesiastes 8:9 As cometh ofttimes to tyrants and wicked rulers.

How wonderful to be wise, to understand things, to be able to analyze them and interpret them. Wisdom lights up a man’s face, softening its hardness.

2-3 Obey the king as you have vowed to do. Don’t always be trying to get out of doing your duty, even when it’s unpleasant. For the king punishes those who disobey. The king’s command is backed by great power, and no one can withstand it or question it. Those who obey him will not be punished. The wise man will find a time and a way to do what he says. 6-7 Yes, there is a time and a way for everything, though man’s trouble lies heavy upon him; for how can he avoid what he doesn’t know is going to happen?

No one can hold back his spirit from departing; no one has the power to prevent his day of death, for there is no discharge from that obligation and that dark battle. Certainly a man’s wickedness is not going to help him then.

9-10 I have thought deeply about all that goes on here in the world, where people have the power of injuring each other. I have seen wicked men buried, and as their friends returned from the cemetery, having forgotten all the dead man’s evil deeds, these men were praised in the very city where they had committed their many crimes! How odd!

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