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Ecclesiastes 8:7

The future and plansWorry and anxiety

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.

For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

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

Compare

BSB
Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?
KJV
For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
WEB
For he doesn’t know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?
ASV
for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
DARBY
for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
BLB
Indeed, he is not knowing what will happen; for when it will be, who can declare [it] to him?
ÅB
for han vet ikke hva som skal hende; for hvem kan si ham hvordan det vil gå?
OTB
Siden ingen vet hva som vil skje, hvem kan fortelle dem når det vil inntreffe?
B1930
for han vet ikke hvad som skal hende; for hvem kan si ham hvorledes det vil gå?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 10:14

    A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

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  • Ecclesiastes 9:12

    For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

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  • Matthew 24:50

    The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

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  • Ecclesiastes 6:12

    For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

    Read in context

  • Proverbs 24:22

    For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

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  • Matthew 25:6–13

    And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

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  • Ecclesiastes 3:22

    Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

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  • Matthew 24:44

    Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

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