Ecclesiastes 8 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Ecclesiastes 9

¹For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn’t know it; all is before them.

KJVFor all this I considered^H5414^(H8804) in my heart^H3820 even to declare^H952^(H8800) all this, that the righteous^H6662, and the wise^H2450, and their works^H5652, are in the hand^H3027 of God^H430: no man^H120 knoweth^H3045^(H8802) either^H1571 love^H160 or hatred^H8135 by all that is before^H6440 them.

² All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn’t sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who fears an oath.

KJVAll things come alike to all: there is one^H259 event^H4745 to the righteous^H6662, and to the wicked^H7563; to the good^H2896 and to the clean^H2889, and to the unclean^H2931; to him that sacrificeth^H2076^(H8802), and to him that^H834 sacrificeth^H2076^(H8802) not: as is the good^H2896, so is the sinner^H2398^(H8802); and he that sweareth^H7650^(H8737), as he that feareth^H3373 an oath^H7621.

³ This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all. Yes also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

KJVThis is an evil^H7451 among all things that are done^H6213^(H8738) under the sun^H8121, that there is one^H259 event^H4745 unto all: yea, also the heart^H3820 of the sons^H1121 of men^H120 is full^H4390^(H8804) of evil^H7451, and madness^H1947 is in their heart^H3824 while they live^H2416, and after^H310 that they go to the dead^H4191^(H8801).

⁴ For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

KJVFor^H4310 to him that is^H3426 joined^H2266^(H8792)^(H8675)^H977^(H8792) to all the living^H2416 there is hope^H986: for a living^H2416 dog^H3611 is better^H2896 than a dead^H4191^(H8801) lion^H738.

⁵ For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten.

KJVFor the living^H2416 know^H3045^(H8802) that they shall die^H4191^(H8799): but the dead^H4191^(H8801) know^H3045^(H8802) not any thing^H3972, neither have they any more a reward^H7939; for the memory^H2143 of them is forgotten^H7911^(H8738).

⁶ Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither do they any longer have a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

KJVAlso their love^H160, and their hatred^H8135, and their envy^H7068, is now^H3528 perished^H6^(H8804); neither have they any more a portion^H2506 for ever^H5769 in any thing that is done^H6213^(H8738) under the sun^H8121.

⁷ Go your way—eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works.

KJVGo thy way^H3212^(H8798), eat^H398^(H8798) thy bread^H3899 with joy^H8057, and drink^H8354^(H8798) thy wine^H3196 with a merry^H2896 heart^H3820; for God^H430 now^H3528 accepteth^H7521^(H8804) thy works^H4639.

⁸ Let your garments be always white, and don’t let your head lack oil.

KJVLet thy garments^H899 be always^H6256 white^H3836; and let thy head^H7218 lack^H2637^(H8799) no ointment^H8081.

⁹ Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity, for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.

KJVLive^H2416 joyfully^H7200^(H8798) with the wife^H802 whom thou lovest^H157^(H8804) all the days^H3117 of the life^H2416 of thy vanity^H1892, which he hath given^H5414^(H8804) thee under the sun^H8121, all the days^H3117 of thy vanity^H1892: for that is thy portion^H2506 in this life^H2416, and in thy labour^H5999 which thou takest^H6001 under the sun^H8121.

¹⁰ Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.

KJVWhatsoever thy hand^H3027 findeth^H4672^(H8799) to do^H6213^(H8800), do^H6213^(H8798) it with thy might^H3581; for there is no work^H4639, nor device^H2808, nor knowledge^H1847, nor wisdom^H2451, in the grave^H7585, whither thou goest^H1980^(H8802).

¹¹ I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

KJVI returned^H7725^(H8804), and saw^H7200^(H8800) under the sun^H8121, that the race^H4793 is not to the swift^H7031, nor the battle^H4421 to the strong^H1368, neither yet bread^H3899 to the wise^H2450, nor yet riches^H6239 to men of understanding^H995^(H8737), nor yet favour^H2580 to men of skill^H3045^(H8802); but time^H6256 and chance^H6294 happeneth^H7136^(H8799) to them all.

¹² For man also doesn’t know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.

KJVFor man^H120 also knoweth^H3045^(H8799) not his time^H6256: as the fishes^H1709 that are taken^H270^(H8737) in an evil^H7451 net^H4685, and as the birds^H6833 that are caught^H270^(H8803) in the snare^H6341; so^H1992 are the sons^H1121 of men^H120 snared^H3369^(H8795) in an evil^H7451 time^H6256, when it falleth^H5307^(H8799) suddenly^H6597 upon them.

¹³ I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me.

KJVThis^H2090 wisdom^H2451 have I seen^H7200^(H8804) also under the sun^H8121, and it seemed great^H1419 unto me:

¹⁴ There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.

KJVThere was a little^H6996 city^H5892, and few^H4592 men^H582 within it; and there came^H935^(H8804) a great^H1419 king^H4428 against it, and besieged^H5437^(H8804) it, and built^H1129^(H8804) great^H1419 bulwarks^H4685 against it:

¹⁵ Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

KJVNow there was found^H4672^(H8804) in it a poor^H4542 wise^H2450 man^H376, and he by his wisdom^H2451 delivered^H4422^(H8765) the city^H5892; yet no man^H120 remembered^H2142^(H8804) that same poor^H4542 man^H376.

¹⁶ Then I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

KJVThen said^H559^(H8804) I, Wisdom^H2451 is better^H2896 than strength^H1369: nevertheless the poor man's^H4542 wisdom^H2451 is despised^H959^(H8803), and his words^H1697 are not heard^H8085^(H8737).

¹⁷ The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.

KJVThe words^H1697 of wise^H2450 men are heard^H8085^(H8737) in quiet^H5183 more than the cry^H2201 of him that ruleth^H4910^(H8802) among fools^H3684.

¹⁸ Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.

KJVWisdom^H2451 is better^H2896 than weapons^H3627 of war^H7128: but one^H259 sinner^H2398^(H8802) destroyeth^H6^(H8762) much^H7235^(H8687) good^H2896.

WEB·Ecclesiastes 8

¹Who 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.

KJVWho is as the wise^H2450 man? and who knoweth^H3045^(H8802) the interpretation^H6592 of a thing^H1697? a man's^H120 wisdom^H2451 maketh his face^H6440 to shine^H215^(H8686), and the boldness^H5797 of his face^H6440 shall be changed^H8132^(H8792).

² I say, “Keep the king’s command!” because of the oath to God.

KJVI counsel thee to keep^H8104^(H8798) the king's^H4428 commandment^H6310, and that in regard^H1700 of the oath^H7621 of God^H430.

³ Don’t be hasty to go out of his presence. Don’t persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him,

KJVBe not hasty^H926^(H8735) to go out^H3212^(H8799) of his sight^H6440: stand^H5975^(H8799) not in an evil^H7451 thing^H1697; for he doeth^H6213^(H8799) whatsoever pleaseth^H2654^(H8799) him.

⁴ for the king’s word is supreme. Who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

KJVWhere the word^H1697 of a king^H4428 is, there is power^H7983: and who may say^H559^(H8799) unto him, What doest^H6213^(H8799) thou?

⁵ Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure.

KJVWhoso keepeth^H8104^(H8802) the commandment^H4687 shall feel^H3045^(H8799) no evil^H7451 thing^H1697: and a wise man's^H2450 heart^H3820 discerneth^H3045^(H8799) both time^H6256 and judgment^H4941.

⁶ For there is a time and procedure for every purpose, although the misery of man is heavy on him.

KJVBecause 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 he doesn’t know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?

KJVFor he knoweth^H3045^(H8802) not that which shall be: for who can tell^H5046^(H8686) him when it shall 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.

KJVThere is no man^H120 that hath power^H7989 over the spirit^H7307 to retain^H3607^(H8800) 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^(H8762) those that are given^H1167 to 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.

KJVAll this have I seen^H7200^(H8804), and applied^H5414^(H8800) my heart^H3820 unto every work^H4639 that is done^H6213^(H8738) under the sun^H8121: there is a time^H6256 wherein one man^H120 ruleth^H7980^(H8804) over another to his own hurt^H7451.

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.

KJVAnd so^H3651 I saw^H7200^(H8804) the wicked^H7563 buried^H6912^(H8803), who had come^H935^(H8804) and gone^H1980^(H8762) from the place^H4725 of the holy^H6918, and they were forgotten^H7911^(H8691) in the city^H5892 where they had so done^H6213^(H8804): this is also vanity^H1892.

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.

KJVBecause sentence^H6599 against an evil^H7451 work^H4639 is not executed^H6213^(H8738) speedily^H4120, therefore the heart^H3820 of the sons^H1121 of men^H120 is fully set^H4390^(H8804) in them to do^H6213^(H8800) evil^H7451.

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.

KJVThough a sinner^H2398^(H8802) do^H6213^(H8802) evil^H7451 an hundred times^H3967, and his days be prolonged^H748^(H8688), yet surely I know^H3045^(H8802) that it shall be well^H2896 with them that fear^H3373 God^H430, which fear^H3372^(H8799) before^H6440 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.

KJVBut it shall not be well^H2896 with the wicked^H7563, neither shall he prolong^H748^(H8686) his days^H3117, which are as a shadow^H6738; because he feareth^H3373 not before^H6440 God^H430.

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.

KJVThere is^H3426 a vanity^H1892 which is done^H6213^(H8738) upon the earth^H776; that there be just^H6662 men, unto whom it happeneth^H5060^(H8688) according to the work^H4639 of the wicked^H7563; again, there be^H3426 wicked^H7563 men, to whom it happeneth^H5060^(H8688) according to the work^H4639 of the righteous^H6662: I said^H559^(H8804) that this also^H1571 is vanity^H1892.

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.

KJVThen I commended^H7623^(H8765) mirth^H8057, because a man^H120 hath no better thing^H2896 under the sun^H8121, than to eat^H398^(H8800), and to drink^H8354^(H8800), and to be merry^H8055^(H8800): for that shall abide^H3867^(H8799) with him of his labour^H5999 the days^H3117 of his life^H2416, which God^H430 giveth^H5414^(H8804) him under the sun^H8121.

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),

KJVWhen I applied^H5414^(H8804) mine heart^H3820 to know^H3045^(H8800) wisdom^H2451, and to see^H7200^(H8800) the business^H6045 that is done^H6213^(H8738) upon the earth^H776:(for also there is that neither day^H3117 nor night^H3915 seeth^H7200^(H8802) sleep^H8142 with his eyes^H5869:)

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.

KJVThen I beheld^H7200^(H8804) all the work^H4639 of God^H430, that a man^H120 cannot^H3201^(H8799) find out^H4672^(H8800) the work^H4639 that is done^H6213^(H8738) under the sun^H8121: because^H834 though^H7945 a man^H120 labour^H5998^(H8799) to seek it out^H1245^(H8763), yet he shall not find^H4672^(H8799) it; yea further; though a wise^H2450 man think^H559^(H8799) to know^H3045^(H8800) it, yet shall he not be able^H3201^(H8799) to find^H4672^(H8800) it.

Section titles come from the Biblion commentary, not from Scripture.

You can also read or listen to the Introduction to the book of Ecclesiastes.