Darby Bible Translation

New King James Version

Obey the King

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.

1

Obey Authorities for God’s Sake

Who is like a wise man?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
A man’s wisdom makes his face shine,
And the [a]sternness of his face is changed.

2

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

2

Obey Authorities for God’s Sake

I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God.

3

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

3

Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.”

4

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

4

Where the word of a king is, there is power;
And who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

5

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

5

He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful;
And a wise man’s heart [b]discerns both time and judgment,

6

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

6

Because for every matter there is a time and judgment,
Though the misery of man [c]increases greatly.

7

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

7

For he does not know what will happen;
So who can tell him when it will occur?

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.

8

No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit,
And no one has power in the day of death.
There is no release from that war,
And wickedness will not deliver those who 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.

9

All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.

10

Fear God

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.

10

Death Comes to All

Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness, and they were forgotten[d] in the city where they had so done. 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.

11

Because the 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 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;

12

Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who 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.

13

But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

14

God's Ways are Mysterious

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.

14

There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just 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

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.

15

So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives 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),

16

When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night,

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.

17

then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.

Parallel

Darby Bible Translation

New King James Version

Ecclesiastes 8

Ecclesiastes 8