Ecclesiastes

Chapter 8

1  Kings are greatly to be respected.  6  The divine providence is to be observed.  12  It is better with the godly in adversity, than with the wicked in prosperity.  16  The work of God is unsearchable.

8:1 ¶ Who (4310) [is] as the wise {2450} [man]? and who (4310) knoweth {3045} <8802> the interpretation {6592} of a thing? {1697} a man's {120} wisdom {2451} maketh his face {6440} to shine, {215} <8686> and the boldness {5797} of his face {6440} shall be changed. {8132} <8792>

8:2 I (589) [counsel thee] to keep {8104} <8798> the king's {4428} commandment, {6310} and [that] in regard {1700} (5921) of the oath {7621} of God. {430}

8:3 Be not (408) hasty {926} <8735> to go (1980) out [3212] <8799> of his sight: {6440} (4480) stand {5975} <8799> not (408) in an evil {7451} thing; {1697} for (3588) he doeth {6213} <8799> whatsoever (3605) (834) pleaseth {2654} <8799> him.

8:4 Where (834) the word {1697} of a king {4428} [is, there is] power: {7983} and who (4310) may say {559} <8799> unto him, What (4100) doest {6213} <8799> thou?

8:5 Whoso keepeth {8104} <8802> the commandment {4687} shall feel {3045} <8799> no (3808) evil {7451} thing: {1697} and a wise man's {2450} heart {3820} discerneth {3045} <8799> both time {6256} and judgment. {4941}

8:6 ¶ Because (3588) to every (3605) purpose {2656} there is {3426} time {6256} and judgment, {4941} therefore (3588) the misery {7451} of man {120} [is] great {7227} upon (5921) him.

8:7 For (3588) he knoweth {3045} <8802> not (369) that (4100) which shall be: (7945) (1961) for (3588) who (4310) can tell {5046} <8686> him when (834) it shall be? (1961)

8:8 [There is] no (369) man {120} that hath power {7989} over the spirit {7307} to retain {3607} <8800> (853) the spirit; {7307} neither (369) [hath he] power {7983} in the day {3117} of death: {4194} and [there is] no (369) discharge {4917} in [that] war; {4421} neither (3808) shall wickedness {7562} deliver {4422} <8762> (853) those that are given {1167} to it.

8:9 All (3605) this (2088) have I seen, {7200} <8804> and applied {5414} <8800> (853) my heart {3820} unto every (3605) work {4639} that (834) is done {6213} <8738> under (8478) the sun: {8121} [there is] a time {6256} wherein (834) one man {120} ruleth [7980] <8804> over (7980) another (120) to his own hurt. {7451}

8:10 And so {3651} I saw {7200} <8804> the wicked {7563} buried, {6912} <8803> who had come {935} <8804> and gone {1980} <8762> from the place {4725} (4480) of the holy, {6918} and they were forgotten {7911} <8691> in the city {5892} where (834) they had so (3651) done: {6213} <8804> this (2088) [is] also (1571) vanity. {1892}

8:11 Because (834) sentence [6599] against (6599) an evil {7451} work {4639} is not (369) executed {6213} <8738> speedily, {4120} therefore (5921) (3651) the heart {3820} of the sons {1121} of men {120} is fully set {4390} <8804> in them to do {6213} <8800> evil. {7451}

8:12 ¶ Though (834) a sinner {2398} <8802> do {6213} <8802> evil {7451} an hundred times, {3967} and his [days] be prolonged, {748} <8688> yet (3588) surely (1571) I (589) know {3045} <8802> that (834) it shall be (1961) well {2896} with them that fear {3373} God, {430} which (834) fear {3372} <8799> before {6440} (4480) him:

8:13 But it shall not (3808) be (1961) well {2896} with the wicked, {7563} neither (3808) shall he prolong {748} <8686> [his] days, {3117} [which are] as a shadow; {6738} because (834) he feareth [3373] (3372) not (369) before {6440} (4480) God. {430}

8:14 There is {3426} a vanity {1892} which (834) is done {6213} <8738> upon (5921) the earth; {776} that (834) there be (3426) just {6662} [men], unto whom (834) (413) it happeneth {5060} <8688> according to the work {4639} of the wicked; {7563} again, there be {3426} wicked {7563} [men], to (413) whom it happeneth {5060} <8688> (7945) according to the work {4639} of the righteous: {6662} I said {559} <8804> that this also {1571} (2088) (7945) [is] vanity. {1892}

8:15 Then I (589) commended {7623} <8765> (853) mirth, {8057} because (834) a man {120} hath no (369) better (2896) thing [2896] under (8478) the sun, {8121} than (3588) (518) to eat, {398} <8800> and to drink, {8354} <8800> and to be merry: {8055} <8800> for that (1931) shall abide {3867} <8799> with him of his labour {5999} the days {3117} of his life, {2416} which (834) God {430} giveth {5414} <8804> him under (8478) the sun. {8121}

8:16 ¶ When (834) I applied {5414} <8804> (853) mine heart {3820} to know {3045} <8800> wisdom, {2451} and to see {7200} <8800> (853) the business {6045} that (834) is done {6213} <8738> upon (5921) the earth: {776} (for (3588) also (1571) [there is that] neither (369) day {3117} nor night {3915} seeth {7200} <8802> sleep {8142} with his eyes:) {5869}

8:17 Then I beheld {7200} <8804> (853) all (3605) the work {4639} of God, {430} that (3588) a man {120} cannot {3201} <8799> (3808) find out {4672} <8800> (853) the work {4639} that (834) is done {6213} <8738> under (8478) the sun: {8121} because [834] (7945) though [7945] (834) a man {120} labour {5998} <8799> to seek [it] out, {1245} <8763> yet he shall not (3808) find {4672} <8799> [it]; yea (1571) further; though (518) a wise {2450} [man] think {559} <8799> to know {3045} <8800> [it], yet shall he not (3808) be able {3201} <8799> to find {4672} <8800> [it].