2 I counsel thee to keep H8104 the king's H4428 commandment, H6310 and that in regard H1700 of the oath H7621 of God. H430
And hath taken H3947 of the king's H4410 seed, H2233 and made H3772 a covenant H1285 with him, and hath taken H935 an oath H423 of him: he hath also taken H3947 the mighty H352 of the land: H776 That the kingdom H4467 might be base, H8217 that it might not lift itself up, H5375 but that by keeping H8104 of his covenant H1285 it might stand. H5975 But he rebelled H4775 against him in sending H7971 his ambassadors H4397 into Egypt, H4714 that they might give H5414 him horses H5483 and much H7227 people. H5971 Shall he prosper? H6743 shall he escape H4422 that doeth H6213 such things? or shall he break H6565 the covenant, H1285 and be delivered? H4422 As I live, H2416 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 surely in the place H4725 where the king H4428 dwelleth that made him king, H4427 whose oath H423 he despised, H959 and whose covenant H1285 he brake, H6565 even with him in the midst H8432 of Babylon H894 he shall die. H4191 Neither shall Pharaoh H6547 with his mighty H1419 army H2428 and great H7227 company H6951 make H6213 for him in the war, H4421 by casting up H8210 mounts, H5550 and building H1129 forts, H1785 to cut off H3772 many H7227 persons: H5315 Seeing he despised H959 the oath H423 by breaking H6565 the covenant, H1285 when, lo, he had given H5414 his hand, H3027 and hath done H6213 all these things, he shall not escape. H4422 Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 As I live, H2416 surely mine oath H423 that he hath despised, H959 and my covenant H1285 that he hath broken, H6331 even it will I recompense H5414 upon his own head. H7218 And I will spread H6566 my net H7568 upon him, and he shall be taken H8610 in my snare, H4686 and I will bring H935 him to Babylon, H894 and will plead H8199 with him there for his trespass H4603 that he hath trespassed H4604 against me.
Let every G3956 soul G5590 be subject G5293 unto the higher G5242 powers. G1849 For G1063 there is G2076 no G3756 power G1849 but G1508 of G575 God: G2316 G1161 the powers G1849 that be G5607 are G1526 ordained G5021 of G5259 God. G2316 Whosoever therefore G5620 resisteth G498 the power, G1849 resisteth G436 the ordinance G1296 of God: G2316 and G1161 they that resist G436 shall receive G2983 to themselves G1438 damnation. G2917 For G1063 rulers G758 are G1526 not G3756 a terror G5401 to good G18 works, G2041 but G235 to the evil. G2556 Wilt thou G2309 then G1161 not G3361 be afraid G5399 of the power? G1849 do G4160 that which is good, G18 and G2532 thou shalt have G2192 praise G1868 of G1537 the same: G846 For G1063 he is G2076 the minister G1249 of God G2316 to thee G4671 for G1519 good. G18 But G1161 if G1437 thou do G4160 that which is evil, G2556 be afraid; G5399 for G1063 he beareth G5409 not G3756 the sword G3162 in vain: G1500 for G1063 he is G2076 the minister G1249 of God, G2316 a revenger G1558 to execute wrath G3709 upon G1519 him that doeth G4238 evil. G2556 Wherefore G1352 ye must needs G318 be subject, G5293 not G3756 only G3440 for G1223 wrath, G3709 but G235 also G2532 for conscience G4893 sake. G1223
G3767 Submit yourselves G5293 to every G3956 ordinance G2937 of man G442 for G1223 the Lord's sake: G2962 whether it be G1535 to the king, G935 as G5613 supreme; G5242 Or G1535 unto governors, G2232 as G5613 unto them that are sent G3992 by G1223 him G846 for G1519 G3303 the punishment G1557 of evildoers, G2555 and G1161 for the praise G1868 of them that do well. G17 For G3754 so G3779 is G2076 the will G2307 of God, G2316 that with well doing G15 ye may put to silence G5392 the ignorance G56 of foolish G878 men: G444 As G5613 free, G1658 and G2532 not G3361 using G2192 your liberty G1657 for G5613 a cloke G1942 of maliciousness, G2549 but G235 as G5613 the servants G1401 of God. G2316 Honour G5091 all G3956 men. Love G25 the brotherhood. G81 Fear G5399 God. G2316 Honour G5091 the king. G935
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 8
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
Solomon, in this chapter, comes to recommend wisdom to us as the most powerful antidote against both the temptations and vexations that arise from the vanity of the world. Here is,
Ecc 8:1-5
Here is,
Ecc 8:6-8
Solomon had said (v. 5) that a wise man's heart discerns time and judgment, that is, a man's wisdom will go a great way, by the blessing of God, in moral prognostications; but here he shows that few have that wisdom, and that even the wisest may yet be surprised by a calamity which they had not any foresight of, and therefore it is our wisdom to expect and prepare for sudden changes. Observe,
Ecc 8:9-13
Solomon, in the beginning of the chapter, had warned us against having any thing to do with seditious subjects; here, in these verses, he encourages us, in reference to the mischief of tyrannical and oppressive rulers, such as he had complained of before, ch. 3:16; 4:1.
Ecc 8:14-17
Wise and good men have, of old, been perplexed with this difficulty, how the prosperity of the wicked and the troubles of the righteous can be reconciled with the holiness and goodness of the God that governs the world. Concerning this Solomon here gives us his advice.