Ecclesiastes 8

1 The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mighty will change his face.

The wisdom of a man shines in his countenance, and even the expression of a most powerful man will change.

2 I observe the mouth of the king, and the commandments of the oath of God.

I heed the mouth of the king, and the commandment of an oath to God.

3 Be not hasty to depart from his face, and do not continue in an evil work: for he will do all that pleaseth him:

You should not hastily withdraw from his presence, nor should you remain in an evil work. For all that pleases him, he will do.

4 And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why dost thou so?

And his word is filled with authority. Neither is anyone able to say to him: “Why are you acting this way?”

5 He that keepeth the commandments shall find no evil. The heart of a wise man understandeth time and answer.

Whoever keeps the commandment will not experience evil. The heart of a wise man understands the time to respond.

6 There is a time and opportunity for every business, and great affliction for man:

For every matter, there is a time and an opportunity, as well as many difficulties, for man.

7 Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he cannot know by any messenger.

For he is ignorant of the past, and he is able to know nothing of the future by means of a messenger.

8 It is not in man’s power to stop the spirit, neither hath he power in the day of death, neither is he suffered to rest when war is at hand, neither shall wickedness save the wicked.

It is not in the power of a man to prohibit the spirit, nor does he have authority over the day of death, nor is he permitted to rest when war breaks out, and neither will impiety save the impious.

9 All these things I have considered, and applied my heart to all the works that are done under the sun. Sometimes one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

I have considered all these things, and I have applied my heart to all the works which are being done under the sun. Sometimes one man rules over another to his own harm.

10 I saw the wicked buried: who also when they were yet living were in the holy place, and were praised in the city as men of just works: but this also is vanity.

I have seen the impious buried. These same, while they were still living, were in the holy place, and they were praised in the city as workers of justice. But this, too, is emptiness.

11 For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear.

For the sons of men perpetrate evils without any fear, because judgment is not pronounced quickly against the evil.

12 But though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and by patience be borne withal, I know from thence that it shall be well with them that fear God, who dread his face.

But although a sinner may do evil of himself one hundred times, and by patience still endure, I realize that it will be well with those who fear God, who revere his face.

13 But let it not be well with the wicked, neither let his days be prolonged, but as a shadow let them pass away that fear not the face of the Lord.

So, may it not go well with the impious, and may his days not be prolonged. And let those who do not fear the face of the Lord pass away like a shadow.

14 There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are just men to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the wicked: and there are wicked men, who are as secure, as though they had the deeds of the just: but this also I judge most vain.

There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are the just, to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the impious. And there are the impious, who are very secure, as though they possess the deeds of the just. But this, too, I judge to be a very great vanity.

15 Therefore I commended mirth, because there was no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry, and that he should take nothing else with him of his labour in the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.

And so, I praised rejoicing, because there was no good for a man under the sun, except to eat and drink, and to be cheerful, and because he may take nothing with him from his labor in the days of his life, which God has given to him under the sun.

16 And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to understand the distraction that is upon earth: for there are some that day and night take no sleep with their eyes.

And I applied my heart, so that I might know wisdom, and so that I might understand a disturbance that turns upon the earth: it is a man, who takes no sleep with his eyes, day and night.

17 And I understood that man can find no reason of all those works of God that are done under the sun: and the more he shall labour to seek, so much the less shall he find: yea, though the wise man shall say, that he knoweth it, he shall not be able to find it.

And I understood that man is able to find no explanation for all those works of God which are done under the sun. And so, the more that he labors to seek, so much the less does he find. Yes, even if a wise man were to claim that he knows, he would not be able to discover it.