Parallel Verses
Bible in Basic English
The word of a king has authority; and who may say to him, What is this you are doing?
New American Standard Bible
Since the word of the king is authoritative,
King James Version
Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Holman Bible
For the king’s word is authoritative, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
International Standard Version
Since a king's command is powerful, who is able to challenge him, asking, "What are you doing?"
A Conservative Version
For the king's word [has] power, and who may say to him, What are thou doing?
American Standard Version
For the king's word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Amplified
For the word of a king is authoritative and powerful,
And who will say to him, “What are you doing?”
Darby Translation
because the word of a king is power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Julia Smith Translation
Wheresoever the word of a king, it is powerful: and who shall say to him, What wilt thou do?
King James 2000
Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What are you doing?
Lexham Expanded Bible
Since the word of the king [is] supreme, no one can say to him, "What are you doing?"
Modern King James verseion
Because the word of a king is that which has power; and who may say to him, What are you doing?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Like as when a king giveth a charge, his commandment is mighty: Even so whom may say unto him, "What doest thou?"
NET Bible
Surely the king's authority is absolute; no one can say to him, "What are you doing?"
New Heart English Bible
for the king's word is supreme. Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
The Emphasized Bible
Where the word of a king is, there is power, - who then may say to him, What wouldst thou do?
Webster
Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say to him, what doest thou?
World English Bible
for the king's word is supreme. Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
Youngs Literal Translation
Where the word of a king is power is, and who saith to him, 'What dost thou?'
Themes
Government » The kings of the earth
King » Obedience to, encouraged
Interlinear
Dabar
References
Hastings
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 8:4
Verse Info
Context Readings
Obedience To The King
3 Be not quick to go from before him. Be not fixed in an evil design, because he does whatever is pleasing to him. 4 The word of a king has authority; and who may say to him, What is this you are doing? 5 Whoever keeps the law will come to no evil: and a wise man's heart has knowledge of time and of decision.
Names
Cross References
Job 9:12
If he puts out his hand to take, by whom may it be turned back? who may say to him, What are you doing?
Daniel 4:35
And all the people of the earth are as nothing: he does his pleasure in the army of heaven and among the people of the earth: and no one is able to keep back his hand, or say to him, What are you doing?
1 Kings 2:25
And King Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and he made an attack on him and put him to death.
1 Kings 2:29-34
And they said to King Solomon, Joab has gone in flight to the Tent of the Lord and is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, make an attack on him.
1 Kings 2:46
So the king gave orders to Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and, falling on him, put him to death. And Solomon's authority over the kingdom was complete.
Job 33:12-13
Truly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.
Job 34:18-19
He who says to a king, You are an evil-doer; and to rulers, You are sinners;
Proverbs 19:12
The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass.
Proverbs 20:2
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
Proverbs 30:31
The war-horse, and the he-goat, and the king when his army is with him.
Daniel 3:15
Now if you are ready, on hearing the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all sorts of instruments, to go down on your faces in worship before the image which I have made, it is well: but if you will not give worship, that same hour you will be put into a burning and flaming fire; and what god is there who will be able to take you out of my hands?
Luke 12:4-5
And I say to you, my friends, Have no fear of those who may put the body to death, and are able to do no more than that.
Romans 9:20
But, O man, who are you, to make answer against God? May the thing which is made say to him who made it, Why did you make me so?
Romans 13:1-4
Let everyone put himself under the authority of the higher powers, because there is no power which is not of God, and all powers are ordered by God.