Ecclesiastes 8:1-9
1599 Geneva Bible
8 2 To obey Princes and Magistrates. 17 The works of God pass man’s knowledge.
1 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.
2 I advertise thee to take heed to the [c]mouth of the king, and to the word of the oath of God.
3 [d]Haste not to go forth of his sight: stand not in an evil thing: for he will do whatsoever pleaseth him.
4 Where the word of the King is, there is power, and who shall say unto him, What doest thou?
5 He that keepeth the commandment, shall know none evil thing, and the heart of the wise shall know the [e]time, and judgment.
6 For to every purpose there is a time and judgment, because the [f]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 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.
9 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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 8:1 That is, doth get him favor and prosperity.
- Ecclesiastes 8:1 Whereas before he was proud and arrogant, he shall become humble and meek.
- Ecclesiastes 8:2 That is, that thou obey the king and keep the oath that thou hast made for the same cause.
- Ecclesiastes 8:3 Withdraw not thyself lightly from the obedience of thy prince.
- Ecclesiastes 8:5 That is, when time is to obey, and how far he should obey.
- 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.
- Ecclesiastes 8:8 Man hath no power to save his own life, and therefore must not rashly cast himself into danger.
- Ecclesiastes 8:9 As cometh ofttimes to tyrants and wicked rulers.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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