Ecclesiastes 8

King James Version

Full text for Ecclesiastes Chapter 8

1¶ Who [is] as the wise [man]? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

2I [counsel thee] to keep the king's commandment, and [that] in regard of the oath of God.

3Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

4Where the word of a king [is, there is] power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

5Whoso 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.

7For 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.

10And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this [is] also vanity.

11Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

12Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his [days] be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

13But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong [his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

14¶ There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just [men], unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked [men], to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also [is] vanity.

15Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

16When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also [there is that] neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

17Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek [it] out, yet he shall not find [it]; yea further; though a wise [man] think to know [it], yet shall he not be able to find [it].

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Ecclesiastes 8 begins by extolling wisdom and counseling strict obedience to the king, whose power is absolute and whose command is to be kept due to an oath to God. The Preacher then reflects on the misery of man, who cannot know the future or escape death, and observes the vanity of delayed justice. He notes the perplexing reality where righteous and wicked often experience contrary outcomes, concluding that man cannot fully comprehend God's work.

Medium Summary

Ecclesiastes 8 opens by highlighting the value of wisdom, which illuminates a man's countenance, and advises strict obedience to the king's commandment, reinforced by an oath to God. The Preacher warns against hasty defiance or engaging in evil, acknowledging the king's unquestionable authority. He then laments man's inability to control his spirit or the day of death, noting that ignorance of the future contributes to human misery. Observing the world, he sees that delayed justice encourages wickedness, yet firmly states that it will be well with those who fear God, but not with the wicked. The chapter also points out the perplexing vanity where righteous and wicked men often experience outcomes contrary to their deeds, leading the Preacher to commend enjoying life's simple pleasures of eating, drinking, and mirth. Ultimately, he concludes that despite diligent effort, man cannot fully grasp the intricate work of God under the sun.

Long Summary

Ecclesiastes 8 commences with an affirmation of wisdom's power, suggesting it brightens a man's face and grants understanding. The Preacher then offers counsel to keep the king's commandment, emphasizing this duty is undertaken in regard to an oath made to God. He advises against hasty defiance or involvement in evil, for a king's word carries absolute power, and none can question his actions. Obedience is presented as a path to avoid evil, with a wise man discerning the proper time and judgment for all things. However, the text quickly shifts to the limitations of humanity, noting that man's ignorance of future events and their timing contributes significantly to his misery. No man possesses power over his spirit to retain it, nor can he escape the day of death, a "war" from which there is no discharge, and wickedness offers no deliverance. The Preacher reflects on the observation that one man often rules over another to his own detriment, and he witnesses the wicked, even those who frequented holy places, buried and forgotten, declaring this also to be vanity. A significant point is made regarding the delayed execution of judgment against evil works, which emboldens men to persist in wickedness. Despite this, the Preacher asserts his certain knowledge that it will ultimately be well with those who fear God, but not with the wicked, whose days are fleeting like a shadow because they lack the fear of God. He further identifies another profound vanity on earth: righteous men suffering as if they were wicked, and wicked men prospering as if they were righteous. In response to these perplexing observations, the Preacher commends mirth, eating, drinking, and being merry, suggesting that enjoying the fruits of one's labor is the best a man can do during the life God grants him. Finally, having diligently sought wisdom and understanding of earthly affairs, he concludes that man cannot fully comprehend or find out the work of God under the sun, even with great labor or the intellect of a wise man.

Core Concepts

  • Obedience to AuthorityThe chapter advises keeping the king's commandment, noting his absolute power and the obligation derived from an oath to God. Disobedience is cautioned against, as the king 'doeth whatsoever pleaseth him'.
  • Man's Limitations and MortalityHumanity is shown to lack power over the spirit, the day of death, or knowledge of future events. This inherent inability to control one's destiny or future timing is a source of human misery.
  • Delayed JusticeThe Preacher observes that because 'sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily,' the hearts of men are emboldened to commit evil. This delay in divine or earthly retribution is a significant observation.
  • Divine Retribution and Fear of GodDespite the delay in justice, the chapter asserts that it will ultimately be well with those who fear God, but not with the wicked, whose days are shortened because they lack this fear. This highlights a fundamental principle of divine judgment.
  • Perplexing VanitiesThe text identifies specific 'vanities,' such as the wicked being forgotten, and the perplexing observation that righteous men suffer while wicked men prosper, contrary to expected justice. These inconsistencies contribute to the Preacher's sense of futility.
  • Enjoyment of Life's Simple PleasuresIn the face of life's uncertainties and injustices, the Preacher commends mirth, eating, and drinking as the best a man can do to enjoy the fruit of his labor during his brief life under the sun.
  • Incomprehensibility of God's WorkThe chapter concludes that despite diligent effort and wisdom, man cannot fully find out or understand the work that God does under the sun. This reinforces the theme of human intellectual limitations regarding divine providence.