Ecclesiastes 8

Ecclesiastes 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.

What creature under heaven is so excellent as a wise man? He only can find out the riddles of nature, and the secrets of art: it is his wisdom, that makes him gracious, and reverently respected of all men: it is that, which alters and changes both his disposition and carriage; and, of rude and harsh, makes him gentle and ingenuous.

Ecclesiastes 8:2

And that in regard of the oath of God.

For that thou hast, by the sacred name of God, sworn homage and allegiance to him.

Ecclesiastes 8:3

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

Do not offer to fling out from him, as in a fury or chafe; neither think thou to face out an evil action before him; for he hath power in his hand to revenge these insolencies at pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 8:5

The heart of the wise man discerneth both time and judgment.

The heart of the wise man discerneth, both the time when T 2 every thing should be done, and the best way how it should be done.

Ecclesiastes 8:6

Because to every purpose there is a time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

For certainly, there is both a proper time for all our actions, and a meet way for the doing of them; which because men ordinarily do neither understand nor observe, they run themselves into great inconvenience.

Ecclesiastes 8:8

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 thereto.

No man hath power to keep his soul, when God calls for it; neither hath he power to protract the day of death any longer: there is no possibility of avoiding that last conflict: the bold and presumptuous wickedness of men cannot deliver them from it; yea, rather shall bring the evil day upon them.

Ecclesiastes 8:9

There is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

It falleth out sometime, that that sovereignty, which was ordained for the good of the people, turns unto their hurt; and withal to the no less harm of the unjust manager thereof.

Ecclesiastes 8:10

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.

Such a wicked ruler I have seen pompously buried, who had come and gone from the sacred seat of judicature, with great state; and with no less to his grave: yet I have known him utterly forgotten, if not odiously remembered, in the city, where he had exercised authority.

Ecclesiastes 8:14

Unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked.

Which speed ill, and are outwardly punished, as the wicked deserve to be.

Ecclesiastes 8:15

Then I commended mirth, because, &c.

I resolved that it was good for man to be cheerful in his calling, and the good and holy use of God’s blessings.