Amplified Bible
Ecclesiastes 8:5
5Whoever keeps and observes a royal command will experience neither trouble nor misery; For a wise heart will know the proper time and [appropriate] procedure.
Ecclesiastes 8:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.
- New International Version (NIV)Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment,
Context of Ecclesiastes 8:5
3Do not be in a hurry to get out of his presence. Do not join in a malevolent matter, for the king will do whatever he pleases. 4For the word of a king is authoritative and powerful, And who will say to him, “What are you doing?” Whoever keeps and observes a royal command will experience neither trouble nor misery; For a wise heart will know the proper time and [appropriate] procedure. 6For there is a proper time and [appropriate] procedure for every delight, Though mankind’s misery and trouble lies heavily upon him [who rebels against the king]. 7For no one knows what will happen; So who can tell him how and when it will happen?
Read all of Ecclesiastes 8Ecclesiastes 8:5 word by word
שׁוֹמֵ֣ר מִצְוָ֔ה לֹ֥א יֵדַ֖ע דָּבָ֣ר רָ֑ע וְעֵ֣ת וּמִשְׁפָּ֔ט יֵדַ֖ע לֵ֥ב חָכָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whoso keepethשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: obeyH8104
- the commandmentמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
- shall feelיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- no evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
- thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
- and a wise man’sחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- both timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
- and judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: customH4941
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:5
- Ecclesiastes 5:2Do not be hasty with your mouth [speaking careless words or vows] or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.
- Exodus 1:17But the midwives feared God [with profound reverence] and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded, but they let the boy babies live.
- Psalms 119:6Then I will not be ashamed When I look [with respect] to all Your commandments [as my guide].
- Hosea 5:11Ephraim is oppressed; he is broken and crushed by [divine] judgment, Because he was determined to follow man’s command (vanities, filth, secular precepts).
- Luke 20:25He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
- Acts 4:19But Peter and John replied to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves];
- Acts 5:29Then Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men [we have no other choice].
- Romans 13:5Therefore one must be subject [to civil authorities], not only to escape the punishment [that comes with wrongdoing], but also as a matter of principle [knowing what is right before God].
- 1 Peter 3:13Now who is there to hurt you if you become enthusiastic for what is good?
- Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness; and yet I know that [in the end] one fate happens to them both.
- Ecclesiastes 10:2A wise man’s heart turns him toward the right [which is the way of blessing], but a fool’s heart turns him toward the left [which is the way of condemnation].
- 1 Chronicles 12:32Of the tribe of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, two hundred chiefs; and all their relatives were at their command;
- Proverbs 17:24[Skillful and godly] wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding [and he recognizes it], But the eyes of a [thickheaded] fool are on the ends of the earth.
- Luke 12:56You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders)! You know how to analyze and intelligently interpret the appearance of the earth and sky [to forecast the weather], but why do you not intelligently interpret this present time?
- 1 Corinthians 2:14But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].
- Philippians 1:9And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight,
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Both time and judgment - It is a matter of great importance to be able to discern When and How both to speak and act; but when time and manner are both determined, the matter comes next. What shall I speak? What shall I do? When, how, and what answer to time, manner, and knitter. To discern all these, and act suitably, is a lesson for a philosopher, and a study for a Christian.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Feel - literally, know. The meaning is, “He who obeys the commandment (i. e., the word of the king, Ecclesiastes 8:4), will not be an accomplice in any act of rebellion; and if he be a wise man he discerns (literally knows) that the king‘s commandment or action is liable to correction, if it be wrong, in God‘s time and by God‘s judgment.” Compare Ecclesiastes 3:11, Ecclesiastes 3:17.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. feel--experience. time--the neglect of the right "times" causes much of the sinful folly of the spiritually unwise (Ec 3:1-11). judgment--the right manner [Holden]. But as God's future "judgment" is connected with the "time for every purpose" in Ec 3:17, so it is here. The punishment of persisting sinners (Ec 8:3) suggests it. The wise man realizes the fact, that as there is a fit "time" for every purpose, so for the "judgment." This thought cheers him…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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