Keep[a] the king’s command because of your oath made before God.(A) Do not be in a hurry; leave his presence,(B) and don’t persist in a bad cause, since he will do whatever he wants. For the king’s word is authoritative, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” (C) The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful,(D) and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. For every activity there is a right time and procedure,(E) even though a person’s troubles are heavy on him.

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Footnotes

  1. 8:2 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg, Tg, Syr; other Hb mss read As for me, keep

I say, “Keep the [a]command of the king because of the (A)oath [b]before God. Do not be in a hurry [c](B)to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.” Since the word of the king is authoritative, (C)who will say to him, “What are you doing?”

One who (D)keeps a royal command (E)experiences no [d]trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. For (F)there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a person’s trouble is heavy upon him.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 8:2 Lit mouth
  2. Ecclesiastes 8:2 Lit of
  3. Ecclesiastes 8:3 Lit to go out from his presence
  4. Ecclesiastes 8:5 Lit evil thing