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Ecclesiastes 8:2

Authority and leadershipObedience

1 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God.
KJV
I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
WEB
I say, “Keep the king’s command!” because of the oath to God.
ASV
I [counsel thee], Keep the king`s command, and that in regard of the oath of God.
DARBY
I [say], Keep the king's commandment, and [that] on account of the oath of God.
BLB
I [say]: The mouth of a king you must keep, even for the sake of the oath of God.
ÅB
Jeg sier: Akt på kongens bud, og det for den eds skyld som du har svoret ved Gud!
OTB
Jeg råder deg til å holde kongens befaling på grunn av eden avlagt for Gud.
B1930
Jeg sier: Akt på kongens bud, og det for den eds skyld som du har svoret ved Gud!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 24:21

    My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

    Read in context

  • Titus 3:1

    Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

    Read in context

  • 1 Peter 2:13–17

    Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

    Read in context

  • 1 Kings 2:43

    Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?

    Read in context

  • Romans 13:1–5

    Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 22:11

    Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 21:7

    But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

    Read in context

  • Ezekiel 17:13–20

    And hath taken of the king’s seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

    Read in context