Ecclesiastes 8 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible

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World English Bible Classic
[1] Who is like the wise man? 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 the oath to God. [3] Don’t be hasty to go out of his presence. Don’t persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him, [4] for the king’s word is supreme. Who can say to him, “What are you doing?” [5] Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure. [6] For there is a time and procedure for every purpose, although the misery of man is heavy on him. [7] For he doesn’t know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be? [8] There is no man who has power over the spirit to contain the spirit; neither does he have power over the day of death. There is no discharge in war; neither shall wickedness deliver those who practice it. [9] All this I have seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt. [10] So I saw the wicked buried. Indeed they came also from holiness. They went and were forgotten in the city where they did this. This also is vanity. [11] Because 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. [12] Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. [13] But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he lengthen days like a shadow, because he doesn’t fear God. [14] There is a vanity which is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked. Again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. [15] Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat, to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which 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 the earth (even though eyes see no sleep day or night), [17] then I saw all the work of God, that man can’t find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won’t find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won’t be able to find it.
King James Version
[1] Who is as the wise H2450 man? and who knoweth H3045 the interpretation H6592 of a thing? H1697 a man’s H120 wisdom H2451 maketh his face H6440 to shine, H215 and the boldness H5797§ of his face H6440 shall be changed. H8132 [2] I counsel thee to keep H8104 the king’s H4428 commandment, H6310 and that in regard H1700 of the oath H7621 of God. H430 [3] Be not hasty H926 to go out H3212 of his sight: H6440 stand H5975 not H408 in an evil H7451 thing; H1697 for H3588 he doeth H6213 whatsoever pleaseth H2654 him. [4] Where H834 the word H1697 of a king H4428 is, there is power: H7983 and who may say H559 unto him, What doest H6213 thou? [5] Whoso keepeth H8104 the commandment H4687 shall feel H3045§ no evil H7451 thing: H1697 and a wise man’s H2450 heart H3820 discerneth H3045 both time H6256 and judgment. H4941 [6] Because H3588 to every purpose H2656 there is H3426 time H6256 and judgment, H4941 therefore the misery H7451 of man H120 is great H7227 upon him. [7] For H3588 he knoweth H3045 not H369 that which shall be: for who can tell H5046 him when it shall be?§ [8] There is no man H120 that hath power H7989 over the spirit H7307 to retain H3607 the spirit; H7307 neither hath he power H7983 in the day H3117 of death: H4194 and there is no discharge§ H4917 in that war; H4421 neither shall wickedness H7562 deliver H4422 H853 those that are given H1167 to it. [9] All H3605 this H2088 have I seen, H7200 and applied H5414 H853 my heart H3820 unto every work H4639 that is done H6213 under the sun: H8121 there is a time H6256 wherein one man H120 ruleth H7980 over another to his own hurt. H7451 [10] And so H3651 I saw H7200 the wicked H7563 buried, H6912 who had come H935 and gone H1980 from the place H4725 of the holy, H6918 and they were forgotten H7911 in the city H5892 where they had so done: H6213 this is also vanity. H1892 [11] Because sentence H6599 against H5921 an evil H7451 work H4639 is not executed H6213 speedily, H4120 therefore the heart H3820 of the sons H1121 of men H120 is fully set H4390 in them to do H6213 evil. H7451 [12] Though a sinner H2398 do H6213 evil H7451 an hundred times, H3967 and his days be prolonged, H748 yet surely I know H3045 that it shall be well H2896 with them that fear H3373 God, H430 which H834 fear H3372 before H6440 him: [13] but it shall not be well H2896 with the wicked, H7563 neither shall he prolong H748 his days, H3117 which are as a shadow; H6738 because he feareth H3373 not before H6440 God. H430 [14] There is H3426 a vanity H1892 which H834 is done H6213 upon H5921 the earth; H776 that there be just H6662 men, unto whom it happeneth H5060 according to the work H4639 of the wicked; H7563 again, there be H3426 wicked H7563 men, to whom it happeneth H5060 according to the work H4639 of the righteous: H6662 I said H559 that this also H1571 is vanity. H1892 [15] Then I commended H7623 H853 mirth, H8057 because a man H120 hath no better thing H2896 under the sun, H8121 than to eat, H398 and to drink, H8354 and to be merry: H8055 for that shall abide H3867 with him of his labour H5999 the days H3117 of his life, H2416 which H834 God H430 giveth H5414 him under the sun. H8121 [16] When I applied H5414 H853 mine heart H3820 to know H3045 wisdom, H2451 and to see H7200 H853 the business H6045 that is done H6213 upon H5921 the earth: H776 (for also there is that neither day H3117 nor night H3915 seeth H7200 sleep H8142 with his eyes:) H5869 [17] then I beheld H7200 all H3605 the work H4639 of God, H430 that a man H120 cannot H3201 find out H4672 the work H4639 that is done H6213 under the sun: H8121 because H834 though H7945 a man H120 labour H5998 to seek it out, H1245 yet he shall not find H4672 it; yea farther; though a wise H2450 man think H559 to know H3045 it, yet shall he not be able H3201 to find H4672 it.

Footnotes

  1. § 8:1 Heb. the strength
  2. § 8:5 Heb. shall know
  3. § 8:7 Or, how it shall be?
  4. § 8:8 Or, casting of weapons
Septuaginta
[1] Τίς G5101 οἶδεν G1492 σοφούς; G4680 Καὶ G2532 τίς G5101 οἶδεν G1492 λύσιν G3080 ῥήματος; G4487 Σοφία G4678 ἀνθρώπου G444 φωτιεῖ G5461 πρόσωπον G4383 αὐτοῦ, G846 καὶ G2532 ἀναιδὴς προσώπῳ G4383 αὐτοῦ G846 μισηθήσεται. G3404 [2] Στόμα G4750 βασιλέως G935 φύλαξον G5442 καὶ G2532 περὶ G4012 λόγου G3056 ὅρκου G3727 θεοῦ G2316 μὴ G3361 σπουδάσῃς· G4704 [3] ἀπὸ G575 προσώπου G4383 αὐτοῦ G846 πορεύσῃ, G4198 μὴ G3361 στῇς G2476 ἐν G1722 λόγῳ G3056 πονηρῷ· G4190 ὅτι G3754 πᾶν, G3956 ὃ G3739 ἐὰν G1437 θελήσῃ, G2309 ποιήσει, G4160 [4] καθὼς G2531 λαλεῖ G2980 βασιλεὺς G935 ἐξουσιάζων, G1850 καὶ G2532 τίς G5101 ἐρεῖ G2046 αὐτῷ G846 Τί G5101 ποιήσεις; G4160 [5] Ὁ G3588 φυλάσσων G5442 ἐντολὴν G1785 οὐ G3756 γνώσεται G1097 ῥῆμα G4487 πονηρόν, G4190 καὶ G2532 καιρὸν G2540 κρίσεως G2920 γινώσκει G1097 καρδία G2588 σοφοῦ· G4680 [6] ὅτι G3754 παντὶ G3956 πράγματι G4229 ἔστιν G2076 καιρὸς G2540 καὶ G2532 κρίσις, G2920 ὅτι G3754 γνῶσις G1108 τοῦ G3588 ἀνθρώπου G444 πολλὴ G4183 ἐπ’ G1909 αὐτόν· G846 [7] ὅτι G3754 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 γινώσκων G1097 τί G5101 τὸ G3588 ἐσόμενον, G2071 ὅτι G3754 καθὼς G2531 ἔσται G2071 τίς G5101 ἀναγγελεῖ G312 αὐτῷ; G846 [8] Οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 ἄνθρωπος G444 ἐξουσιάζων G1850 ἐν G1722 πνεύματι G4151 τοῦ G3588 κωλῦσαι G2967 σὺν G4862 τὸ G3588 πνεῦμα· G4151 καὶ G2532 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 ἐξουσία G1849 ἐν G1722 ἡμέρᾳ G2250 τοῦ G3588 θανάτου, G2288 καὶ G2532 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 ἀποστολὴ G651 ἐν G1722 τῷ G3588 πολέμῳ, G4171 καὶ G2532 οὐ G3756 διασώσει G1295 ἀσέβεια G763 τὸν G3588 παρ’ G3844 αὐτῆς. G846 [9] Καὶ G2532 σὺν G4862 πᾶν G3956 τοῦτο G5124 εἶδον G1492 καὶ G2532 ἔδωκα G1325 τὴν G3588 καρδίαν G2588 μου G3450 εἰς G1519 πᾶν G3956 ποίημα, G4161 ὃ G3739 πεποίηται G4160 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον, G2246 τὰ G3588 ὅσα G3745 ἐξουσιάσατο G1850 ὁ G3588 ἄνθρωπος G444 ἐν G1722 ἀνθρώπῳ G444 τοῦ G3588 κακῶσαι G2559 αὐτόν· G846 [10] καὶ G2532 τότε G5119 εἶδον G1492 ἀσεβεῖς G765 εἰς G1519 τάφους G5028 εἰσαχθέντας, G1521 καὶ G2532 ἐκ G1537 τόπου G5117 ἁγίου G40 ἐπορεύθησαν G4198 καὶ G2532 ἐπῃνέθησαν G1867 ἐν G1722 τῇ G3588 πόλει, G4172 ὅτι G3754 οὕτως G3779 ἐποίησαν. G4160 Καί G2532 γε G1065 τοῦτο G5124 ματαιότης. G3153 [11] Ὅτι G3754 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 γινομένη G1096 ἀντίρρησις ἀπὸ G575 τῶν G3588 ποιούντων G4160 τὸ G3588 πονηρὸν G4190 ταχύ· G5035 διὰ G1223 τοῦτο G5124 ἐπληροφορήθη G4135 καρδία G2588 υἱῶν G5207 τοῦ G3588 ἀνθρώπου G444 ἐν G1722 αὐτοῖς G846 τοῦ G3588 ποιῆσαι G4160 τὸ G3588 πονηρόν. G4190 [12] Ὃς G3739 ἥμαρτεν, G264 ἐποίησεν G4160 τὸ G3588 πονηρὸν G4190 ἀπὸ G575 τότε G5119 καὶ G2532 ἀπὸ G575 μακρότητος αὐτῷ· G846 ὅτι G3754 καί G2532 γε G1065 γινώσκω G1097 ἐγὼ G1473 ὅτι G3754 ἔσται G2071 ἀγαθὸν G18 τοῖς G3588 φοβουμένοις G5399 τὸν G3588 θεόν, G2316 ὅπως G3704 φοβῶνται G5399 ἀπὸ G575 προσώπου G4383 αὐτοῦ· G846 [13] καὶ G2532 ἀγαθὸν G18 οὐκ G3756 ἔσται G2071 τῷ G3588 ἀσεβεῖ, G765 καὶ G2532 οὐ G3756 μακρυνεῖ ἡμέρας G2250 ἐν G1722 σκιᾷ G4639 ὃς G3739 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 φοβούμενος G5399 ἀπὸ G575 προσώπου G4383 τοῦ G3588 θεοῦ. G2316 [14] Ἔστιν G2076 ματαιότης, G3153 ἣ G3739 πεποίηται G4160 ἐπὶ G1909 τῆς G3588 γῆς, G1093 ὅτι G3754 εἰσὶ G1526 δίκαιοι G1342 ὅτι G3754 φθάνει G5348 πρὸς G4314 αὐτοὺς G846 ὡς G5613 ποίημα G4161 τῶν G3588 ἀσεβῶν, G765 καὶ G2532 εἰσὶν G1526 ἀσεβεῖς G765 ὅτι G3754 φθάνει G5348 πρὸς G4314 αὐτοὺς G846 ὡς G5613 ποίημα G4161 τῶν G3588 δικαίων· G1342 εἶπα G2036 ὅτι G3754 καί G2532 γε G1065 τοῦτο G5124 ματαιότης. G3153 [15] Καὶ G2532 ἐπῄνεσα G1867 ἐγὼ G1473 σὺν G4862 τὴν G3588 εὐφροσύνην, G2167 ὅτι G3754 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 ἀγαθὸν G18 τῷ G3588 ἀνθρώπῳ G444 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον G2246 ὅτι G3754 εἰ G1487 μὴ G3361 τοῦ G3588 φαγεῖν G5315 καὶ G2532 τοῦ G3588 πιεῖν G4095 καὶ G2532 τοῦ G3588 εὐφρανθῆναι, G2165 καὶ G2532 αὐτὸ G846 συμπροσέσται αὐτῷ G846 ἐν G1722 μόχθῳ G3449 αὐτοῦ G846 ἡμέρας G2250 ζωῆς G2222 αὐτοῦ, G846 ὅσας G3745 ἔδωκεν G1325 αὐτῷ G846 ὁ G3588 θεὸς G2316 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον. G2246 [16] Ἐν G1722 οἷς G3739 ἔδωκα G1325 τὴν G3588 καρδίαν G2588 μου G3450 τοῦ G3588 γνῶναι G1097 σοφίαν G4678 καὶ G2532 τοῦ G3588 ἰδεῖν G1492 τὸν G3588 περισπασμὸν τὸν G3588 πεποιημένον G4160 ἐπὶ G1909 τῆς G3588 γῆς, G1093 ὅτι G3754 καί G2532 γε G1065 ἐν G1722 ἡμέρᾳ G2250 καὶ G2532 ἐν G1722 νυκτὶ G3571 ὕπνον G5258 ἐν G1722 ὀφθαλμοῖς G3788 αὐτοῦ G846 οὐκ G3756 ἔστιν G2076 βλέπων, G991 [17] καὶ G2532 εἶδον G1492 σὺν G4862 πάντα G3956 τὰ G3588 ποιήματα G4161 τοῦ G3588 θεοῦ, G2316 ὅτι G3754 οὐ G3756 δυνήσεται G1410 ἄνθρωπος G444 τοῦ G3588 εὑρεῖν G2147 σὺν G4862 τὸ G3588 ποίημα G4161 τὸ G3588 πεποιημένον G4160 ὑπὸ G5259 τὸν G3588 ἥλιον· G2246 ὅσα G3745 ἂν G302 μοχθήσῃ ὁ G3588 ἄνθρωπος G444 τοῦ G3588 ζητῆσαι, G2212 καὶ G2532 οὐχ G3756 εὑρήσει· G2147 καί G2532 γε G1065 ὅσα G3745 ἂν G302 εἴπῃ G2036 ὁ G3588 σοφὸς G4680 τοῦ G3588 γνῶναι, G1097 οὐ G3756 δυνήσεται G1410 τοῦ G3588 εὑρεῖν. G2147
Septuaginta, in place of Byzantine Greek New Testament