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I say, “Keep the king’s command!” because of the oath to God. Don’t be hasty to go out of his presence. Don’t persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him, for the king’s word is supreme. Who can say to him, “What are you doing?” Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure. For there is a time and procedure for every purpose, although the misery of man is heavy on him.

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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