Keep the King's Command

Ecclesiastes 8

1 Who is like a wise man?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
a A man's wisdom makes his face shine,
And b the 1 sternness of his face is changed.

2 I say, "Keep the king's commandment c for the sake of your oath to God. 3 d "Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him." 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power;
And e who may say to him, "What are you doing?" 5 He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful;
And a wise man's heart 2 discerns both time and judgment, 6 Because f for every matter there is a time and judgment,
Though the misery of man 3 increases greatly. 7 g For he does not know what will happen;
So who can tell him when it will occur? 8 h No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit,
And no one has power in the day of death.
There is i no release from that war,
And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it. 9 All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.

  1. Cross References
    Proverbs 4:8
    Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
    Proverbs 4:9
    She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.
    Acts 6:15
    And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
  2. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 28:50
    A nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young.
  3. Cross References
    Exodus 22:11
    Then an oath of the LORD shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor's goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good.
    2 Samuel 21:7
    But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
    1 Chronicles 29:24
    All the leaders and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David, submitted themselves to King Solomon.
    Ezekiel 17:18
    'Since he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and in fact gave his hand and still did all these things, he shall not escape.'"
    Romans 13:5
    Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.
  4. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 10:4
    If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.
  5. Cross References
    1 Samuel 13:11
    And Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash.
    1 Samuel 13:13
    And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
    Job 34:18
    Is it fitting to say to a king, ' You are worthless,' And to nobles, ' You are wicked'?
  6. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 3:1
    To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
    Ecclesiastes 3:17
    I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
  7. Cross References
    Proverbs 24:22
    For their calamity will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin those two can bring?
    Ecclesiastes 6:12
    For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 49:6
    Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches.
    Psalms 49:7
    None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him -
    Job 14:5
    Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 20:5 - 8
    Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying: 'What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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