Berean Standard Bible

Ecclesiastes 8

1Whoמִ֚יmiH4310is like the wise manכְּהֶ֣חָכָ֔םke.He.cha.KhamH2450?Whoוּמִ֥יu.MiH4310knowsיוֹדֵ֖עַyo.De.a'H3045the interpretationפֵּ֣שֶׁרPe.sherH6592of a matterדָּבָ֑רda.VarH1697?A man’sאָדָם֙'a.DamH120wisdomחָכְמַ֤תcha.khe.MatH2451brightensתָּאִ֣ירta.'IrH215his faceפָּנָ֔יוpa.NavH6440,and the sternnessוְעֹ֥זve.'OzH5797of his faceפָּנָ֖יוpa.NavH6440is changedיְשֻׁנֶּֽא׃ye.shu.Ne'H8132.

2Keepשְׁמ֔וֹרshe.MorH8104the king’sמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428commandפִּי־pi-H6310,I sayאֲנִי֙'a.NiH589,because ofוְעַ֕ל דִּבְרַ֖תve.'Al div.RatH5921 H1700your oathשְׁבוּעַ֥תshe.vu.'AtH7621before Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430.

3Do notאַל־'al-H408hastenתִּבָּהֵ֤לti.ba.HelH926to leaveתֵּלֵ֔ךְte.LekhH1980his presenceמִפָּנָיו֙mi.pa.NavH6440,and do notאַֽל־'al-H408persistתַּעֲמֹ֖דta.'a.ModH5975in a badרָ֑עRa'H7451causeבְּדָבָ֣רbe.da.VarH1697,forכִּ֛יkiH3588he will doיַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ya.'a.SehH6213whateverכָּל־kol-H3605אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834he pleasesיַחְפֹּ֖ץyach.PotzH2654.

4Forבַּאֲשֶׁ֥רba.'a.SherH834the king’sמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428wordדְּבַר־de.var-H1697is supremeשִׁלְט֑וֹןshil.TonH7983,and whoוּמִ֥יu.MiH4310can sayיֹֽאמַר־yo.mar-H559to him, “Whatמַֽה־mah-H4100are you doingתַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃ta.'a.SehH6213?”

5Whoever keepsשׁוֹמֵ֣רsho.MerH8104his commandמִצְוָ֔הmitz.VahH4687will come toיֵדַ֖ע דָּבָ֣רye.Da' da.VarH3045 H1697noלֹ֥אlo'H3808harmרָ֑עRa'H7451,and a wiseחָכָֽם׃cha.KhamH2450heartלֵ֥בlevH3820knowsיֵדַ֖עye.Da'H3045the right timeוְעֵ֣תve.'EtH6256and procedureוּמִשְׁפָּ֔טu.mish.PatH4941.

6Forכִּ֣יkiH3588there isיֵ֖שׁyeshH3426a right timeעֵ֣ת'etH6256and procedureוּמִשְׁפָּ֑טu.mish.PatH4941to everyלְכָל־le.kholH3605purposeחֵ֔פֶץChe.fetzH2656,thoughכִּֽי־ki-H3588a man’sהָאָדָ֖םha.'a.DamH120miseryרָעַ֥תra.'AtH7451weighs heavilyרַבָּ֥הra.BahH7227upon himעָלָֽיו׃'a.LavH5921.

7Sinceכִּֽי־ki-H3588no oneאֵינֶ֥נּוּ'ei.Ne.nuH369knowsיֹדֵ֖עַyo.De.a'H3045whatמַה־mah-H4100will happenשֶּׁיִּֽהְיֶ֑הshei.yih.YehH1961,whoמִ֖יmiH4310can tellיַגִּ֥ידya.GidH5046himכִּ֚יkiH3588whatכַּאֲשֶׁ֣רka.'a.SherH834is to comeיִֽהְיֶ֔הyih.YehH1961?

8As noאֵ֣ין'einH369manאָדָ֞ם'a.DamH120has powerשַׁלִּ֤יטsha.LitH7989over the windבָּר֙וּחַ֙ba.Ru.achH7307to containלִכְל֣וֹאlikh.Lo'H3607אֶת־'et-H853itהָר֔וּחַha.Ru.achH7307,so no oneוְאֵ֤יןve.'EinH369has authorityשִׁלְטוֹן֙shil.tOnH7983over his dayבְּי֣וֹםbe.YomH3117of deathהַמָּ֔וֶתha.Ma.vetH4194.As no oneוְאֵ֥יןve.'EinH369can be dischargedמִשְׁלַ֖חַתmish.La.chatH4917in wartimeבַּמִּלְחָמָ֑הba.mil.cha.MahH4421,so wickednessרֶ֖שַׁעRe.sha'H7562אֶת־'et-H853will notוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808releaseיְמַלֵּ֥טye.ma.LetH4422those who practice itבְּעָלָֽיו׃be.'a.LavH1167.

9Allכָּל־kol-H3605thisזֶ֤הzehH2088I have seenרָאִ֙יתִי֙ra.'I.tiH7200,applyingוְנָת֣וֹןve.na.TonH5414אֶת־'et-H853my mindלִבִּ֔יli.BiH3820to everyלְכָֽל־le.kholH3605deedמַעֲשֶׂ֔הma.'a.SehH4639thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834is doneנַעֲשָׂ֖הna.'a.SahH6213underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121; there isa timeעֵ֗ת'EtH6256whenאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834one manהָאָדָ֛םha.'a.DamH120lords itשָׁלַ֧טsha.LatH7980over anotherבְּאָדָ֖םbe.'a.DamH120to his own detrimentלְרַ֥עle.Ra'H7451אֶת־'et-H853.

Fear God

(Isaiah 8:11–15)

10Then tooוּבְכֵ֡ןu.ve.KhenH3651,I sawרָאִיתִי֩ra.'i.TiH7200the burialקְבֻרִ֜יםke.vu.RimH6912of the wickedרְשָׁעִ֨יםre.sha.'ImH7563who used to go inוָבָ֗אוּva.Va.'uH935and outיְהַלֵּ֔כוּye.ha.Le.khuH1980of the holyקָדוֹשׁ֙ka.do.VoshH6918placeוּמִמְּק֤וֹםu.mi.me.KomH4725,and they were praisedוְיִֽשְׁתַּכְּח֥וּve.yish.ta.ke.ChuH7911in the cityבָעִ֖ירva.'IrH5892whereאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834they had doneעָשׂ֑וּ'a.SuH6213soכֵּן־ken-H3651.Thisזֶ֖הzehH2088tooגַּם־gam-H1571is futileהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

11Whenאֲשֶׁר֙'a.SherH834the sentenceפִתְגָ֔םfit.GamH6599for a crimeמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה הָרָעָ֖הma.'a.Seh ha.ra.'AhH7451 H4639is notאֵין־'ein-H369speedilyמְהֵרָ֑הme.he.RahH4120executedנַעֲשָׂ֣ה עַל־ כֵּ֡ןna.'a.Sah 'al- kenH6213 H5921 H3651,the heartsלֵ֧בlevH3820of menבְּֽנֵי־ הָאָדָ֛םbe.nei- ha.'a.DamH1121 H120become fully setמָלֵ֞אma.Le'H4390on doingלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213evilרָֽע׃Ra'H7451.

12Althoughאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834a sinnerחֹטֶ֗אcho.Te'H2398doesעֹשֶׂ֥ה'o.SehH6213evilרָ֛עra'H7451a hundredמְאַ֖תme.'AtH3967timesand still lives longוּמַאֲרִ֣יךְu.ma.'a.RikhH748,yetכִּ֚יkiH3588Iאָ֔נִי'A.niH589alsoגַּם־gam-H1571knowיוֹדֵ֣עַyo.De.a'H3045thatאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834it will goיִהְיֶה־yih.yeh-H1961wellטּוֹב֙tOvH2896with those whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834fearיִֽירְא֖וּyi.re.'UH3372Godהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,who are reverentלְיִרְאֵ֣יle.yir.'EiH3373in His presenceמִלְּפָנָֽיו׃mi.le.fa.NavH6440.

13Yet becauseאֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherH834the wickeddo notאֵינֶ֥נּוּ'ei.Ne.nuH369fearיָרֵ֖א מִלִּפְנֵ֥יya.Re' mi.lif.NeiH3373 H6440Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430,it will notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808goיִהְיֶ֣הyih.YehH1961wellוְטוֹב֙ve.tOvH2896withלָֽרָשָׁ֔עla.ra.Sha'H7563them,and their daysיָמִ֖יםya.MimH3117will notוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808lengthenיַאֲרִ֥יךְya.'a.RikhH748like a shadowכַּצֵּ֑לka.TzelH6738.

God’s Ways Are Mysterious

14There isיֶשׁ־yesh-H3426a futilityהֶבֶל֮he.VelH1892thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834is doneנַעֲשָׂ֣הna.'a.SahH6213onעַל־'al-H5921the earthהָאָרֶץ֒ha.'a.RetzH776:There areיֵ֣שׁyeshH3426righteousצַדִּיקִ֗יםtza.di.KimH6662menאֲשֶׁ֣ר׀'a.SherH834whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834getמַגִּ֤יעַ אֲלֵהֶם֙ma.Gi.a' 'a.le.HemH5060 H413what the actionsכְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣הke.ma.'a.SehH4639of the wickedהָרְשָׁעִ֔יםha.re.sha.'ImH7563deserve,and there areוְיֵ֣שׁve.YeshH3426wickedרְשָׁעִ֔יםre.sha.'ImH7563menwhoאֲלֵהֶ֖ם'a.le.HemH413getשֶׁמַּגִּ֥יעַshe.ma.Gi.a'H5060what the actionsכְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣הke.ma.'a.SehH4639of the righteous deserveהַצַּדִּיקִ֑יםha.tza.di.KimH6662.I sayאָמַ֕רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559that thisזֶ֖הzehH2088tooשֶׁגַּם־she.gam-H1571is futileהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

15So Iאֲנִי֙'a.NiH589אֶת־'et-H853commendedוְשִׁבַּ֤חְתִּֽיve.shi.Bach.tiH7623the enjoyment of lifeהַשִּׂמְחָ֔הha.sim.ChahH8057,becauseאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834there is nothingאֵֽין־'ein-H369betterט֤וֹבTovH2896for a manלָֽאָדָם֙la.'a.DamH120underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁha.She.meshH8121thanכִּ֛י אִם־ki 'im-H3588 H518to eatלֶאֱכ֥וֹלle.'e.KholH398and drinkוְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹתve.lish.TotH8354and be merryוְלִשְׂמ֑וֹחַve.lis.Mo.achH8055.For thisוְה֞וּאve.Hu'H1931joywill accompany himיִלְוֶ֣נּוּyil.Ve.nuH3867in his laborבַעֲמָל֗וֹva.'a.ma.LoH5999during the daysיְמֵ֥יye.MeiH3117of his lifeחַיָּ֛יוchai.YavH2416thatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430givesנָֽתַן־na.tan-H5414himunderתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

16Whenכַּאֲשֶׁ֨רka.'a.SherH834I appliedנָתַ֤תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414אֶת־'et-H853my mindלִבִּי֙li.BiH3820to knowלָדַ֣עַתla.Da.'atH3045wisdomחָכְמָ֔הchokh.mahH2451and to observeוְלִרְאוֹת֙ve.lir.'OtH7200אֶת־'et-H853the taskהָ֣עִנְיָ֔ןha.'in.YanH6045thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834one performsנַעֲשָׂ֖הna.'a.SahH6213onעַל־'al-H5921the earthהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776—thoughכִּ֣י גַ֤םki gamH3588 H1571his eyesבְּעֵינָ֖יוbe.'ei.NavH5869do notאֵינֶ֥נּוּ'ei.Ne.nuH369seeרֹאֶֽה׃ro.'EhH7200sleepשֵׁנָ֕הshe.NahH8142in the dayבַּיּוֹם֙bai.yOmH3117or even in the nightוּבַלַּ֔יְלָהu.va.Lay.lahH3915—

17I sawוְרָאִיתִי֮ve.ra.'i.TiH7200אֶת־'et-H853everyכָּל־kol-H3605workמַעֲשֵׂ֣הma.'a.SehH4639of Godהָאֱלֹהִים֒ha.'E.lo.HimH430,and thatכִּי֩kiH3588a manהָאָדָ֗םha.'a.DamH120is unableלֹ֨א יוּכַ֜לlo' yu.KhalH3808 H3201to comprehendלִמְצוֹא֙lim.tzO'H4672אֶת־'et-H853the workהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂה֙ha.ma.'a.SehH4639thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834is doneנַעֲשָׂ֣הna.'a.SahH6213underתַֽחַת־ta.chat-H8478the sunהַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁha.She.meshH8121. Despiteאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834hisהָאָדָ֛םha.'a.DamH120effortsיַעֲמֹ֧לya.'a.MolH5998to search it outלְבַקֵּ֖שׁle.va.KeshH1245,he cannotוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808findיִמְצָ֑אyim.Tza'H4672its meaning;evenוְגַ֨םve.GamH1571ifאִם־'im-H518the wiseהֶֽחָכָם֙he.cha.KhamH2450man claimsיֹאמַ֤רyo.MarH559to knowלָדַ֔עַתla.Da.'atH3045,he is unableלֹ֥א יוּכַ֖לlo' yu.KhalH3808 H3201to comprehendלִמְצֹֽא׃lim.Tzo'H4672.

Fear God

(Isaiah 8:11–15)

God’s Ways Are Mysterious

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8