Ecclesiastes 8

1Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

1Who is like a truly wise person? Who else understands how to explain things? Wisdom makes a person’s face shine and softens a hard expression.

2I counsel thee, Keep the king’s command, and that in regard of the oath of God.

2I advise you to obey the king’s orders, because you took a vow before God to do so.

3Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

3Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence or support a bad cause, because he does whatever he wants.

4For the king’s word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

4Since the king's word is supreme, who can ask him, 'What are you doing?'

5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerneth time and judgment:

5Whoever obeys his command will stay out of trouble, and a wise heart knows the right time and the right way to act.

6for to every purpose there is a time and judgment; because the misery of man is great upon him:

6There is a proper time and procedure for everything, even though people are weighed down by many troubles.

7for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?

7Since no one knows what the future holds, who can tell a person what will happen?

8There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in war: neither shall wickedness deliver him that is given to it.

8No one has the power to hold back the wind or keep their spirit from leaving, and no one has power over the day of their death. Just as no one is excused from a battle during a war, wickedness will not save those who practice it.

9All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man hath power over another to his hurt.

9I saw all of this as I thought deeply about everything happening under the sun. There are times when one person rules over another to their own harm.

10So I saw the wicked buried, and they came to the grave; and they that had done right went away from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city: this also is vanity.

10Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praised in the very city where they did such things. This too is senseless.

11Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

11When a crime is not punished quickly, people's hearts are completely filled with schemes to do evil.

12Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him:

12Even though a sinner does wrong a hundred times and still lives a long life, I know for sure that things will go better for those who fear God and show him reverence.

13but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

13But it will not go well for the wicked. Their lives are like a shadow and will not last long, because they do not fear God.

14There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there are righteous men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

14There is something else senseless that happens on earth: sometimes righteous people get what the wicked deserve, and wicked people get what the righteous deserve. I say this also is pointless.

15Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that shall abide with him in his labor all the days of his life which God hath given him under the sun.

15So I recommend enjoying life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be happy. This joy will stay with them in their hard work during all the days of life God gives them under the sun.

16When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes),

16When I set my heart to learn wisdom and to observe all the activity that takes place on earth—even staying awake day and night to see it—

17then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

17then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what happens under the sun. No matter how hard a person tries to search for it, they cannot find the meaning. Even if a wise person claims to know, they cannot truly understand it.