Ecclesiastes 8:4
2 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.
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.
6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
- KJV
- Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
- WEB
- for the king’s word is supreme. Who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
- ASV
- For the king`s word [hath] power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
- DARBY
- because the word of a king is power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
- BLB
- Where the word of a king [is], power [is], and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
- ÅB
- For kongens ord er mektig, og hvem tør si til ham: Hva gjør du?
- OTB
- Siden kongens ord er autoritativt, hvem kan stille ham spørsmål, “Hva gjør du?”
- B1930
- For kongens ord er mektig, og hvem tør si til ham: Hvad gjør du?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Romans 13:1–4
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 contextJob 9:12
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Read in contextProverbs 20:2
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
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 contextRomans 9:20
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Read in contextProverbs 19:12
The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
Read in contextJob 34:18–19
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
Read in context1 Kings 2:25
And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
Read in context