Ecclesiastes 8:3
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.
2 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.
4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.
- KJV
- Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
- WEB
- Don’t be hasty to go out of his presence. Don’t persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him,
- ASV
- Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
- DARBY
- Be not hasty to go out of his sight; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatever pleaseth him,
- BLB
- Do not hurry [to] depart from his face; do not stand in an evil matter, for all that he delights in, he will do.
- ÅB
- Vær ikke for snar til å forlate ham, og vær ikke med på noe som er ondt! For han gjør alt det han vil.
- OTB
- Ikke vær rask til å forlate hans nærvær. Ikke støtt en ond sak, for han vil handle som han ønsker.
- B1930
- Vær ikke for snar til å forlate ham, og vær ikke med på noget som er ondt! For han gjør alt det han vil.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ecclesiastes 10:4
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
Read in contextDaniel 4:35
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Read in contextActs 5:8–9
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Read in contextDaniel 5:19
And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
Read in contextProverbs 14:29
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Read in contextIsaiah 48:4
Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
Read in context1 Kings 1:50–52
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
Read in contextProverbs 30:31
A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
Read in context