Parallel Verses
NET Bible
If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!
New American Standard Bible
If you see
King James Version
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
Holman Bible
If you see oppression of the poor
International Standard Version
Don't be surprised when you see the poor oppressed and the violent perverting both justice and verdicts in a province, for one high official watches another, and there are ones higher still over them.
A Conservative Version
If thou see the oppression of a poor man, and the violent wresting of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter. For [a man] higher than the high is observing, and there are higher [men] than they.
American Standard Version
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.
Amplified
If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight [of corruption]; for a higher official watches over another official, and there are higher ones over them [looking out for one another].
Bible in Basic English
If you see the poor under a cruel yoke, and law and right being violently overturned in a country, be not surprised, because one authority is keeping watch on another and there are higher than they.
Darby Translation
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter; for a higher than the high is watching, and there are higher than they.
Julia Smith Translation
If thou shalt see the oppression of the poor one, and the spoiling of judgment and justice in a province, thou shalt not wonder at the inclination: for the high one above the high one is watching, and the high ones over them.
King James 2000
If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for the high official is watched by a higher one; and there are yet higher ones over them.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Do not be surprised if you see the poor being oppressed with violence or [do not see] justice and righteousness in the province. For one official is watched by a higher official, and [there are] even higher officials over them!
Modern King James verseion
If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, do not marvel at the matter. For He who is higher than the highest watches; and there are some higher than they.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
If thou seest the poor to be oppressed and wrongfully dealt withal, so that equity and the right of the law is wrested in the land: marvel not thou at such judgment, for one great man keepeth touch with another, and the mighty help themselves together.
New Heart English Bible
If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, do not marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.
The Emphasized Bible
If, the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of justice and righteousness, thou see in the province, do not be astonished over the matter, - for, one high above the highest, is watching, yea, the Most High, is over them.
Webster
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perversion of judgment and justice in a province, wonder not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there are higher than they.
World English Bible
If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don't marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.
Youngs Literal Translation
If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness thou seest in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones are over them.
Interlinear
Ra'ah
Mishpat
Gaboahh
Gaboahh
Shamar
References
American
Fausets
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 5:8
Verse Info
Context Readings
Powerful Bureaucrats Exploit The Helpless Poor
7 Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. Therefore, fear God! 8 If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them! 9 The produce of the land is seized by all of them, even the king is served by the fields.
Cross References
Psalm 12:5
"Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action," says the Lord. "I will provide the safety they so desperately desire."
Ecclesiastes 4:1
So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.
Psalm 82:1
A psalm of Asaph. God stands in the assembly of El; in the midst of the gods he renders judgment.
Ecclesiastes 3:16
I saw something else on earth: In the place of justice, there was wickedness, and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.
1 Kings 21:19-20
Say to him, 'This is what the Lord says: "Haven't you committed murder and taken possession of the property of the deceased?"' Then say to him, 'This is what the Lord says: "In the spot where dogs licked up Naboth's blood they will also lick up your blood -- yes, yours!"'"
1 Chronicles 21:15-16
God sent an angel to ravage Jerusalem. As he was doing so, the Lord watched and relented from his judgment. He told the angel who was destroying, "That's enough! Stop now!" Now the Lord's angel was standing near the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Job 20:19-29
For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build.
Job 27:8-23
For what hope does the godless have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
Psalm 10:17-18
Lord, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.
Psalm 55:9
Confuse them, O Lord! Frustrate their plans! For I see violence and conflict in the city.
Psalm 58:10-11
The godly will rejoice when they see vengeance carried out; they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.
Psalm 83:18
Then they will know that you alone are the Lord, the sovereign king over all the earth.
Psalm 95:3
For the Lord is a great God, a great king who is superior to all gods.
Psalm 140:11-12
A slanderer will not endure on the earth; calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down.
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
Isaiah 3:15
Why do you crush my people and grind the faces of the poor?" The sovereign Lord who commands armies has spoken.
Isaiah 5:7
Indeed Israel is the vineyard of the Lord who commands armies, the people of Judah are the cultivated place in which he took delight. He waited for justice, but look what he got -- disobedience! He waited for fairness, but look what he got -- cries for help!
Isaiah 10:5-7
Assyria, the club I use to vent my anger, is as good as dead, a cudgel with which I angrily punish.
Isaiah 10:12
But when the sovereign master finishes judging Mount Zion and Jerusalem, then I will punish the king of Assyria for what he has proudly planned and for the arrogant attitude he displays.
Isaiah 37:36
The Lord's messenger went out and killed 185,000 troops in the Assyrian camp. When they got up early the next morning, there were all the corpses!
Isaiah 46:10-11
who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, 'My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire,'
Isaiah 57:15
For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: "I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged.
Isaiah 59:13-16
We have rebelled and tried to deceive the Lord; we turned back from following our God. We stir up oppression and rebellion; we tell lies we concocted in our minds.
Jeremiah 22:17-19
But you are always thinking and looking for ways to increase your wealth by dishonest means. Your eyes and your heart are set on killing some innocent person and committing fraud and oppression.
Ezekiel 22:6-14
"'See how each of the princes of Israel living within you has used his authority to shed blood.
Amos 5:12
Certainly I am aware of your many rebellious acts and your numerous sins. You torment the innocent, you take bribes, and you deny justice to the needy at the city gate.
Amos 6:2-6
They say to the people: "Journey over to Calneh and look at it! Then go from there to Hamath-Rabbah! Then go down to Gath of the Philistines! Are they superior to our two kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?"
Amos 6:12
Can horses run on rocky cliffs? Can one plow the sea with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into a poisonous plant, and the fruit of righteous actions into a bitter plant.
Amos 8:4-7
Listen to this, you who trample the needy, and do away with the destitute in the land.
Micah 2:1-3
Those who devise sinful plans are as good as dead, those who dream about doing evil as they lie in bed. As soon as morning dawns they carry out their plans, because they have the power to do so.
Micah 2:9
You wrongly evict widows among my people from their cherished homes. You defraud their children of their prized inheritance.
Micah 3:1-4
I said, "Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel! You ought to know what is just,
Micah 3:9-12
Listen to this, you leaders of the family of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel! You hate justice and pervert all that is right.
Micah 6:10-13
"I will not overlook, O sinful house, the dishonest gain you have hoarded away, or the smaller-than-standard measure I hate so much.
Habakkuk 1:2-3
How long, Lord, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, "Violence!" But you do not intervene!
Habakkuk 1:12-13
Lord, you have been active from ancient times; my sovereign God, you are immortal. Lord, you have made them your instrument of judgment. Protector, you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment.
Zechariah 7:9-13
"The Lord who rules over all said, 'Exercise true judgment and show brotherhood and compassion to each other.
Zechariah 8:6
And,' says the Lord who rules over all, 'though such a thing may seem to be difficult in the opinion of the small community of those days, will it also appear difficult to me?' asks the Lord who rules over all.
Malachi 3:5
"I will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against those who practice divination, those who commit adultery, those who break promises, and those who exploit workers, widows, and orphans, who refuse to help the immigrant and in this way show they do not fear me," says the Lord who rules over all.
Matthew 13:41-42
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers.
Luke 1:32
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
Luke 1:35
The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:76
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
Acts 4:27-28
"For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,
Acts 12:7-10
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, "Get up quickly!" And the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
Acts 12:23
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck Herod down because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Romans 11:33
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!
James 2:13
For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 5:2-7
Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten.
1 Peter 4:12
Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.
1 John 3:13
Therefore do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
Revelation 17:6-7
I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus. I was greatly astounded when I saw her.