Thematic Bible
Ecclesiastes 8:1 (show verse)
Who is really wise? Who knows how to interpret this saying: "A person's wisdom improves his appearance, softening a harsh countenance."
Ecclesiastes 8:2 (show verse)
I advise doing what the king says, especially regarding an oath to God.
duties of Citizens » General references to
Civic duties » General references to
Discerning » Who discerns
Duties » Of citizens » General references to
Heart » The heart of the wise
King » Obedience to, encouraged
Loyalty » Encouraged
Nation » Duty to
Oaths » Of allegiance
Oaths » Used for » Pledging allegiance to sovereigns
Obedience » Who to obey
Obedience » Those that obey the king
The Nation » Ps 137; ro 13 miscellaneous topics relating to, government, kings, rulers, etc » Civic duties
Civic duties » General references to
Discerning » Who discerns
Duties » Of citizens » General references to
Heart » The heart of the wise
King » Obedience to, encouraged
Loyalty » Encouraged
Nation » Duty to
Oaths » Of allegiance
Oaths » Used for » Pledging allegiance to sovereigns
Obedience » Who to obey
Obedience » Those that obey the king
The Nation » Ps 137; ro 13 miscellaneous topics relating to, government, kings, rulers, etc » Civic duties
Ecclesiastes 8:3 (show verse)
Don't be in a hurry to leave him, and don't persist in evil, for he does whatever he pleases.
Ecclesiastes 8:4 (show verse)
Since a king's command is powerful, who is able to challenge him, asking, "What are you doing?"
Ecclesiastes 8:5 (show verse)
Whoever obeys his commands will not experience harm, and the wise in heart will discern both the appropriate time and response.
Ecclesiastes 8:6 (show verse)
Indeed, there is an appropriate time and a response for every circumstance, since human misery weighs heavily upon him.
Ecclesiastes 8:7 (show verse)
For he has absolutely no knowledge what will happen, since who can declare to him when it will come about?
Ecclesiastes 8:8 (show verse)
Just as no human being has control over the wind to restrain it, so also no human being has control over the day of his death. Just as no one is discharged during war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
Certainties » Sobering » Certainty of death
death » Universality of
death » No man having power over death
death » Great reaper » Resistance is in vain
natural Death » Lot of all
Deliverance » What cannot deliver
Dying » Universality of
human Limitations » Man subject to » Time limited
Man » Mortality of » Universality of
Man » Limitations of » Time limited
Man » Cannot retain his spirit from death
Seven » Certainties, seven that face the unrepentant sinner » Certainty of death
Spirit/souls » There being no man that has power over the spirit
Universal » Blessing, possible » death
War » Illustrative of » Our contest with death
Wickedness » What wickedness cannot do
death » Universality of
death » No man having power over death
death » Great reaper » Resistance is in vain
natural Death » Lot of all
Deliverance » What cannot deliver
Dying » Universality of
human Limitations » Man subject to » Time limited
Man » Mortality of » Universality of
Man » Limitations of » Time limited
Man » Cannot retain his spirit from death
Seven » Certainties, seven that face the unrepentant sinner » Certainty of death
Spirit/souls » There being no man that has power over the spirit
Universal » Blessing, possible » death
War » Illustrative of » Our contest with death
Wickedness » What wickedness cannot do
Ecclesiastes 8:9 (show verse)
I observed all this, and carefully considered everything that is undertaken on earth, especially the time when someone dominates another to his detriment.
No Themes for this verse.
Ecclesiastes 8:10 (show verse)
So I watched the wicked being entombed. They used to come in and out of the Holy Place, but now they are forgotten in the city, where they used to work. This, too, is pointless.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 (show verse)
Whenever a sentence for a crime is not carried out swiftly, the human mind becomes determined to commit evil.
divine Delays » In inflicting punishment
Error » Sin's penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Evil » Heart evil, characteristics of » Stubbornness
Heart » The unregenerate » Is full of iniquity
Heart » Evil, characteristics of » Stubbornness
Heart » Sinful » Stubbornness
character of the unrenewed Heart » Fully set to do evil
Impenitence » Warnings against
Longsuffering Of God » The wicked » Abuse
delayed Penalty » Sin's penalty sometimes delayed
Punishment » Capital Punishment » Delayed
Punishment » Delayed
Punishment of the The Wicked » Deferred, emboldens them in sin
Security » FALSE » Leads to increased guilt
Sin » Penalty for » Penalty sometimes delayed
Sinful » Heart » Stubbornness
Sins » Penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Transgression » Sin's penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Error » Sin's penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Evil » Heart evil, characteristics of » Stubbornness
Heart » The unregenerate » Is full of iniquity
Heart » Evil, characteristics of » Stubbornness
Heart » Sinful » Stubbornness
character of the unrenewed Heart » Fully set to do evil
Impenitence » Warnings against
Longsuffering Of God » The wicked » Abuse
delayed Penalty » Sin's penalty sometimes delayed
Punishment » Capital Punishment » Delayed
Punishment » Delayed
Punishment of the The Wicked » Deferred, emboldens them in sin
Security » FALSE » Leads to increased guilt
Sin » Penalty for » Penalty sometimes delayed
Sinful » Heart » Stubbornness
Sins » Penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Transgression » Sin's penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Ecclesiastes 8:12 (show verse)
Even though a sinner does what is wrong a hundred times and still survives, nevertheless I also know that things will go well for those who fear God, who fear in his presence.
Ecclesiastes 8:13 (show verse)
But things will not go well for the wicked person: he will not lengthen his life like a shadow, since he has no fear before God.
Ecclesiastes 8:14 (show verse)
Here is a pointless thing that happens on earth: A righteous man receives what happens to the wicked, and a wicked man receives what happens to the righteous. I concluded that this, too, is pointless.
No Themes for this verse.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 (show verse)
So then I recommended enjoyment of life, because it is better on earth for a man to eat, drink, and be happy, since this will stay with him throughout his struggle all the days of his life, which God grants him on earth.
Ecclesiastes 8:16 (show verse)
When I dedicated myself to experience wisdom and to observe what is undertaken on earth even going without sleep day and night
Ecclesiastes 8:17 (show verse)
I saw all of it as the activity of God. Frankly, a human being cannot understand what happens on earth, because however hard a man works to discover it, he will not find out. Despite what he thinks he knows, he will not be able to figure it out.