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Obedience to the King

Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would. Don’t try to avoid doing your duty, and don’t stand with those who plot evil, for the king can do whatever he wants. His command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it. Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right, for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble.

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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