Ecclesiastes 8 - Darby Translation (DARBY)

8 Who 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 There 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.

9 All 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.

10 And 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.

11 Because 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.

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

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

14 There 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.

15 And 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, which God hath given him under the sun.

16 When 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),

17 then I saw that all [is] the work of God, [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.

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Ecclesiastes 8 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

8 Who [is] as the wise? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of man causeth his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. 2 I pray thee, the commandment of a king keep, even for the sake of the oath of God. 3 Be not troubled at his presence, thou mayest go, stand n...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

8 Who is such as a wise man? and who knoweth the solving, either expounding, of a word? The wisdom of a man shineth in his cheer; and the mightiest shall change his face (The wisdom of a person shineth in their face; and maketh even the mightiest to change his expression, or his countenance). 2 I ke...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - World English Bible (WEB)

8 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 ...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - The Voice (VOICE)

8 Teacher: How rare to find one who is truly wise, one who knows how to interpret this or solve that! Wisdom brightens the countenance of the face, and softens hard lines etched in the face. 2 Here’s my advice: keep what comes from the king’s mouth; after all, this matter is really an oath from God....
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Ecclesiastes 8 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Wisdom’s Light and Limits8 Who is like the wise person? Who knows the meaning of a matter?A person’s wisdom makes his face shine, transforming the harshness of his face. 2 I say: “Obey the king’s command, and especially in regard to the oath of God. 3 Do not be hasty to rush out of his presence. Do...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Obey the King and Enjoy Yourself8 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 countenance is changed. 2 Keep[a] the king’s command, and because of your sacred oath be not dismayed; 3 go from his presence, do not d...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Obey the King and Enjoy Yourself8 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 countenance is changed. 2 Keep[a] the king’s command, and because of your sacred oath be not dismayed; 3 go from his presence, do not d...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Obey the King and Enjoy Yourself8 Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing?Wisdom makes one’s face shine, and the hardness of one’s countenance is changed. 2 Keep[a] the king’s command because of your sacred oath. 3 Do not be terrified; go from his presence, do not dela...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Obey the King and Enjoy Yourself8 Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing?Being wise makes one’s face shine, but arrogance changes one’s face.(A)2 Keep[a] the king’s command, and because of your sacred oath(B)3 do not be terrified; go from his presence; do not delay whe...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - New Living Translation (NLT)

8 How wonderful to be wise, to analyze and interpret things.Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its harshness. Obedience to the King2 Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would. 3 Don’t try to avoid doing your duty, and don’t stand with those who plot evil, for the king can do whate...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - New Life Version (NLV)

8 Who is like the wise man? And who understands the meaning of anything? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine. The hard look on his face is changed. Obey the King2 I say, “Obey the words of the king because of the promise you made to God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in wrong-doi...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Obey Authorities for God’s Sake8 Who is like a wise man?And who knows the interpretation of a thing?(A)A man’s wisdom makes his face shine,And (B)the [a]sternness of his face is changed. Obey Authorities for God’s Sake2 I say, “Keep the king’s commandment (C)for the sake of your oath to God. 3 (D)D...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

8 Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things?A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance. Obey the king2 Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad caus...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - New International Version (NIV)

8 Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things?A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance. Obey the King2 Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence.(A) Do not stand up for a bad ca...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

8 Who is like a wise person? Who knows how to explain things?A person’s wisdom makes their face bright. It softens the look on their face. Obey the King2 I’m telling you to obey the king’s command. You promised to serve him. You made a promise to God. 3 Don’t be in a hurry to quit your job in the p...
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Ecclesiastes 8 - New English Translation (NET)

Human Government Demonstrates Limitations of Wisdom8 Who is[a] a[b] wise person? Who knows the solution[c] to a problem?[d]A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance,[e] and softens[f] his harsh countenance.[g]2 Obey the king’s command,[h]because you took[i] an oath before God[j] to be loyal to him....
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