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Ecclesiastes 8:2–6

Keep the command of the kinga

because of your oath to God.b

Do not be terrified of his presence!

Go at once and do not delay when a matter is unpleasant,

for he can do anything that he desires.

Since the word of the king is supreme,

no one can say to him, “What are you doing?”

Whoever obeys his command will not suffer disaster.

The wise mind knows the proper time and the right procedure.

For there is a proper time and right procedure for every matter,

even though the trouble of man weighs heavy upon him.

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Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — The New International Version (NIV)

Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm,

and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.

For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,

though a person may be weighed down by misery.

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — English Standard Version (ESV)

I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him. Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.

Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would. Don’t try to avoid doing your duty, and don’t stand with those who plot evil, for the king can do whatever he wants. His command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it. Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right, for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble.

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God. Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.”

Where the word of a king is, there is power;

And who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful;

And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment,

Because for every matter there is a time and judgment,

Though the misery of man increases greatly.

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — New Century Version (NCV)

Obey the king’s command, because you made a promise to God. Don’t be too quick to leave the king. Don’t support something that is wrong, because the king does whatever he pleases. What the king says is law; no one tells him what to do.

Whoever obeys the king’s command will be safe.

A wise person does the right thing at the right time.

There is a right time and a right way for everything,

yet people often have many troubles.

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — American Standard Version (ASV)

I counsel thee, Keep the king’s command, and that in regard of the oath of God. Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. For the king’s word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerneth time and judgment: for to every purpose there is a time and judgment; because the misery of man is great upon him:

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

I say, Keep the king’s commandment, and that on account of the oath of God. Be not hasty to go out of his sight; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatever pleaseth him, because the word of a king is power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart knoweth time and manner.

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

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

I ⸤advise⸥ you to obey the king’s commands because of the oath you took in God’s presence. Don’t be in a hurry to leave the king’s service. Don’t take part in something evil, because he can do whatever he pleases. Since a king’s word has such power, no one can ask him what he is doing. Whoever obeys his commands will avoid trouble. The mind of a wise person will know the right time and the right way ⸤to act⸥. There is a right time and a right way ⸤to act⸥ in every situation. Yet, a terrible human tragedy hangs over people. 

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Keep the king’s command because of your oath made before God. Do not be in a hurry; leave his presence, and don’t persist in a bad cause, since he will do whatever he wants. For the king’s word is authoritative, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though man’s troubles are heavy on him.

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Keep the king’s command because of your sacred oath. Do not be terrified; go from his presence, do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he does whatever he pleases. For the word of the king is powerful, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” Whoever obeys a command will meet no harm, and the wise mind will know the time and way. For every matter has its time and way, although the troubles of mortals lie heavy upon them.

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

I’m telling you to obey the king’s command. You took an oath to serve him. You made a promise to God. Don’t be in a hurry to quit your job in the palace. Don’t stand up for something the king doesn’t like. He’ll do anything he wants to. He has the final word. So who can ask him, “What are you doing?”

No one who obeys his command will be harmed.

Those who are wise will know the proper time and way to approach him.

There’s a proper time and way for people to do everything.

That’s true even though a man might be suffering greatly.

Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

I say, “Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God.

“Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.”

Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, “What are you doing?”

He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.

For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him.


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