Ecclesiastes 8:2

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1 Who is like a wise man?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
^aA man’s wisdom makes his face shine,
And ^bthe sternness of his face is changed.

Obey Authorities for God’s Sake

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

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

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

5 He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful;
And a wise man’s heart¹ discerns both time and judgment,

6 Because ^afor every matter there is a time and judgment,
Though the misery of man¹ increases greatly.

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

8 ^aNo one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit,
And no one has power in the day of death.
There is ^bno release from that war,
And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.

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.

Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 8:2

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Ecclesiastes 8:3 >>

American Standard Version
I `counsel thee', Keep the king's command, and that in regard of the oath of God.

Amplified® Bible
I counsel you to keep the king's command, and that in regard to the oath of God [by which you swore to him loyalty].

Contemporary English Version
If you promised God that you would be loyal to the king, I advise you to keep that promise.

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

Good News Bible
Do what the king says, and don't make any rash promises to God.

King James Version
I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

New American Standard Bible
I say, "Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God.

New International Version
Obey the king's command, I say, because you took an oath before God.

New King James Version
I say, "Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your oath to God.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
I say, "Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God.

Revised Standard Version
Keep the king's command, and because of your sacred oath be not dismayed;

Young's Literal Translation
I pray thee, the commandment of a king keep, even for the sake of the oath of God.

New English Translation
Obey the king’s command,¹ because you took² an oath before God³ to be loyal to him.⁴

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Ecclesiastes 8:3 >>