American Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 8:5
5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerneth time and judgment:
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
3Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. 4For the king’s word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerneth time and judgment: 6for to every purpose there is a time and judgment; because the misery of man is great upon him: 7for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
Read all of Ecclesiastes 8Ecclesiastes 8:5 word by word
שׁוֹמֵ֣ר מִצְוָ֔ה לֹ֥א יֵדַ֖ע דָּבָ֣ר רָ֑ע וְעֵ֣ת וּמִשְׁפָּ֔ט יֵדַ֖ע לֵ֥ב חָכָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:5
- Ecclesiastes 5:2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
- Exodus 1:17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive.
- Psalms 119:6Then shall I not be put to shame, When I have respect unto all thy commandments.
- Hosea 5:11Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; because he was content to walk after man’s command.
- Luke 20:25And he said unto them, Then render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.
- Acts 4:19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye:
- Acts 5:29But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.
- Romans 13:5Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
- 1 Peter 3:13And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?
- Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all.
- Ecclesiastes 10:2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
- 1 Chronicles 12:32And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
- Proverbs 17:24Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
- Luke 12:56Ye hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time?
- 1 Corinthians 2:14Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
- Philippians 1:9And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;
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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries