Ecclesiastes 8 — NETB
8Verse 1Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem?
A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.
Verse 2Obey the king’s command,
because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.
Verse 3Do not rush out of the king’s presence in haste – do not delay when the matter is unpleasant,
for he can do whatever he pleases.
Verse 4Surely the king’s authority is absolute;
no one can say to him, “What are you doing?”
Verse 5Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm,
and a wise person knows the proper time and procedure.
Verse 6For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
for the oppression of the king is severe upon his victim.
Verse 7Surely no one knows the future,
and no one can tell another person what will happen.
Verse 8Just as no one has power over the wind to restrain it,
so no one has power over the day of his death.
Just as no one can be discharged during the battle,
so wickedness cannot rescue the wicked.
Verse 9While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this:
Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.
and as they left the holy temple, they
boasted in the city that they had done so.
This also is an enigma.
Verse 11When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime,
the human heart is encouraged to do evil.
Verse 12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time,
yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people – for they stand in fear before him.
Verse 13But it will not go well with the wicked,
nor will they prolong their days like a shadow,
because they do not stand in fear before God.
Verse 14Here is another enigma that occurs on earth:
Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve,
and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve.
I said, “This also is an enigma.”
for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life.
So joy will accompany him in his toil
during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.
and to observe the activity on earth –
even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night –
Verse 17then I discerned all that God has done:
No one really comprehends what happens on earth.
Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it.
Even if a wise person claimed that he understood,
he would not really comprehend it.
A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.
Verse 2Obey the king’s command,
because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.
Verse 3Do not rush out of the king’s presence in haste – do not delay when the matter is unpleasant,
for he can do whatever he pleases.
Verse 4Surely the king’s authority is absolute;
no one can say to him, “What are you doing?”
Verse 5Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm,
and a wise person knows the proper time and procedure.
Verse 6For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
for the oppression of the king is severe upon his victim.
Verse 7Surely no one knows the future,
and no one can tell another person what will happen.
Verse 8Just as no one has power over the wind to restrain it,
so no one has power over the day of his death.
Just as no one can be discharged during the battle,
so wickedness cannot rescue the wicked.
Verse 9While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this:
Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.
Contradictions to the Law of Retribution
Verse 10Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple,and as they left the holy temple, they
boasted in the city that they had done so.
This also is an enigma.
Verse 11When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime,
the human heart is encouraged to do evil.
Verse 12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time,
yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people – for they stand in fear before him.
Verse 13But it will not go well with the wicked,
nor will they prolong their days like a shadow,
because they do not stand in fear before God.
Verse 14Here is another enigma that occurs on earth:
Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve,
and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve.
I said, “This also is an enigma.”
Enjoy Life In Spite of Its Injustices
Verse 15So I recommend the enjoyment of life,for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life.
So joy will accompany him in his toil
during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.
Limitations of Human Wisdom
Verse 16When I tried to gain wisdomand to observe the activity on earth –
even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night –
Verse 17then I discerned all that God has done:
No one really comprehends what happens on earth.
Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it.
Even if a wise person claimed that he understood,
he would not really comprehend it.