Ecclesiastes 8

1Who is as the wise? and who knoweth the explanation of things? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face is changed.

1The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mighty will change his face.

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.

2I [say], Keep the king's commandment, and [that] on account of the oath ofGod.

2I observe the mouth of the king, and the commandments of the oath of God.

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

3Be not hasty to go out of his sight; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatever pleaseth him,

3Be not hasty to depart from his face, and do not continue in an evil work: for he will do all that pleaseth him:

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

4because the word of a king is power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

4And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why dost thou so?

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

5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man's heart knoweth time and manner.

5He that keepeth the commandment, shall find no evil. The heart of a wiser man understandeth time and answer.

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

6For to every purpose there is time and manner. For the misery of man is great upon him;

6There is a time and opportunity for every business, and great affliction for man:

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

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

7Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he cannot know by any messenger.

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

8There is no man who hath control over the spirit to retain the spirit; and no one hath control over the day of death; and there is no discharge in that war, neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

8It is not in man's power to stop the spirit, neither hath he power in the day of death, neither is he suffered to rest when war is at hand, neither shall wickedness save the wicked.

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.

9All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time when man ruleth man to his hurt.

9All these things I have considered, and applied my heart to all the works that are done under the sun. Sometimes one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

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.

10And I have also seen the wicked buried and going away; and such as had acted rightly went from [the] holy place, and were forgotten in the city. This also is vanity.

10I saw the wicked buried: who also when they were yet living were in the holy place, and were praised in the city as men of just works: but this also is vanity.

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.

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

11For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear.

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.

12Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his [days], yet I know that it shall be well with them that fearGod, because they fear before him;

12But though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and by patience be borne withal, I know from thence that it shall be well with them that fear God, who dread his face.

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:

13but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong [his] days as a shadow, because he feareth not beforeGod.

13But let it not be well with the wicked, neither let his days be prolonged, but as a shadow let them pass away that fear not the face of the Lord.

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.

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; and there are wicked [men] to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

14There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are just men to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the wicked: and there are wicked men, who are as secure as though they had the deeds of the just: but this also I judge most vain.

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.

15And I commended mirth, because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, whichGod hath given him under the sun.

15Therefore I commended mirth, because there was no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry, and that he should take nothing else with him of his labour in the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.

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.

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),

16And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to understand the distraction that is upon earth: for there are some that day and night take no sleep with their eyes.

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),

17then I saw that all [is] the work ofGod, [and] that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however man may labour to seek [it] out, yet doth he not find [it]; and even, if a wise [man] think to know [it], he shall not be able to find [it] out.

17And I understood that man can find no reason of all those works of God that are done under the sun: and the more he shall labour to seek, so much the less shall he find: yea, though the wise man shall say, that he knoweth it, he shall not be able to find 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.