Parallel Bible results for "ecclesiastes 8"

Ecclesiastes 8

Common English Bible CEB

1 Who is wise? And who knows the meaning of anything? A person's wisdom brightens the expression; it changes the hardness of someone's face.

2 Keep the king's command as you would keep a solemn pledge.

3 Don't be dismayed; leave his presence. Don't linger in a harmful situation because he can do whatever he wants!

4 Because the king's word has authority, no one can say to him, "What are you doing?"

5 Whoever keeps a command will meet no harm, and the wise heart knows the right time and the right way

6 because there's a right time and right way for every matter. But human misfortunes are overwhelming

7 because no one knows what will happen, and no one can say when something might happen.

8 No one has control over the life-breath, to retain it, and there's no control over the day of death. There's no release from war, and wickedness won't deliver those who practice it.

9 I observed all of this as I paid attention to all that happens under the sun. Sometimes people exercise power over each other to their detriment.

10 Then I saw the wicked brought to their graves, with people processing from a holy place, while those who had lived honestly were neglected in the city. This too is pointless.

11 The condemnation for wicked acts isn't carried out quickly; that's why people dare to do evil.

12 Wrongdoers may commit a hundred crimes but still live long lives. But I also know that it will go well for those who fear God, for those who are reverent before God.

13 But it will not go well for the wicked; they won't live long at all because they aren't reverent before God.

14 Here's another thing that happens on earth that is pointless: the righteous get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked get what the righteous deserve. I say that this too is pointless.

15 So I commend enjoyment because there's nothing better for people to do under the sun but to eat, drink, and be glad. This is what will accompany them in their hard work, during the lifetime that God gives under the sun.

16 Then I set my mind to know wisdom and to observe the business that happens on earth, even going without sleep day and night

17 I observed all the work of God—that no one can grasp what happens under the sun. Those who strive to know can't grasp it. Even the wise who are set on knowing are unable to grasp it.

English Standard Version ESV

1 Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

2 I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.

3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.

4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing? ”

5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.

6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.

7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?

8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.

9 All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.

10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.

11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.

13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

15 And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one’s eyes see sleep,

17 then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.