Ecclesiastes 8

Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

Who can match the wisdom of a wise person? Who can truly understand the meaning of everything? A person's wisdom lights up their face and softens its hard look.

I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

I advise you, respect the king's orders, remembering your sacred promise to God.

Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

Don't rush to leave the king's presence, and don't stand by a wrong cause, for he does whatever he pleases.

Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

A king's word holds great strength; who dares to question his actions?

Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.

Whoever obeys the rules will be shielded from harm, and a wise person can understand the right time and way to act.

Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

Every intention has its own moment and consequence, hence, man's suffering can feel overwhelming.

For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

He is unaware of what the future holds; who can possibly inform him of its timing?

There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

No one has the power to hold on to the breath of life, and no one has power over the day of death; there's no release from this battle. Even wrongdoing can't save those who embrace it.

All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

I've witnessed it all, setting my mind to study everything that is done under the sun: there are moments when one person's rule over another leads to their own downfall.

And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

I witnessed the evil ones, who used to come and go from the holy place, being laid to rest. Their memory faded in the very city where they had done so. Such is the futility of life.

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

When punishment for wrongdoings isn't swift, people are emboldened to continue their evil deeds.

Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

Even if a person commits countless sins and lives a long life, I am certain that those who respect and revere God will ultimately find peace and goodness.

But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Things won't go well for the wicked, their lives won't last long, like fleeting shadows, because they don't respect God.

There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

It's a sad reality on earth that good people sometimes face the consequences of the wicked, while the wicked enjoy the rewards meant for the righteous. I find this utterly senseless.

Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

I praised joy, for there's nothing better in life than to eat, drink, and be happy. These pleasures will accompany him in his hard work throughout his life, given to him by God.

When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

When I devoted my heart to understand wisdom and observe life on earth, I realized that some people never rest, day or night.

Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

I saw the vastness of God's creation, realizing that no human can fully grasp all that happens on earth. Despite our efforts and wisdom, we can't fully comprehend God's work.