Ecclesiastes 8:2-6

International Standard Version

The Wisdom of Pleasing Leaders

² I advise^[a] doing what the king says, especially regarding an oath to God. ³ Don’t be in a hurry to leave him, and don’t persist in evil, for he does whatever he pleases. ⁴ Since a king’s command is powerful, who is able to challenge him, asking, “What are you doing?”

⁵ Whoever obeys his commands will not experience harm, and the wise in heart will discern both the appropriate time and response.^{[b] 6} Indeed, there is an appropriate time and a response^[c] for every circumstance, since human misery weighs heavily upon him.