Ecclesiastes 8:2-6
New King James Version
Obey Authorities for God’s Sake
2 I say, “Keep the king’s commandment (A)for the sake of your oath to God. 3 (B)Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.”
4 Where the word of a king is, there is power;
And (C)who may say to him, “What are you doing?”
5 He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful;
And a wise man’s heart [a]discerns both time and judgment,
6 Because (D)for every matter there is a time and judgment,
Though the misery of man [b]increases greatly.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 8:5 Lit. knows
- Ecclesiastes 8:6 is great upon him
Ecclesiastes 8:2-6
American Standard Version
2 I counsel thee, Keep the king’s command, and that in regard of the oath of God. 3 Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. 4 For the king’s word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou? 5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerneth time and judgment: 6 for to every [a]purpose there is a time and judgment; because the [b]misery of man is great upon him:
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 8:6 Or, matter
- Ecclesiastes 8:6 Or, evil
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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