Ecclesiastes 8:2-6
Lexham English Bible
2 Keep the command of the king[a]
because of your oath to God.[b]
3 Do not be terrified of his presence!
Go at once and do not delay when a matter is unpleasant,
for he can do anything that he desires.
4 Since the word of the king is supreme,
no one can say to him, “What are you doing?”
5 Whoever obeys his command will not suffer disaster.
The wise mind knows the proper time and the right procedure.
6 For there is a proper time and right procedure for every matter,
even though the trouble of man weighs heavy upon him.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 8:2 While MT reads “I said, ‘Keep the mouth of the king,’” the versions read “Keep the mouth of the king,” which is adopted in the translation
- Ecclesiastes 8:2 Literally “because of the oath of God”
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
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