Ecclesiastes 8
Lutheran reading notes
In Ecclesiastes chapter 8, the wisdom literature continues to explore the meaning of life and reverence for God amid life's vanity. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.
1
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. {the boldness: Heb. the strength}
Ecclesiastes 8:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
I {counsel thee} to keep the king's commandment, and {that} in regard of the oath of God.
Ecclesiastes 8:2 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
Ecclesiastes 8:3 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
Where the word of a king {is, there is} power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Ecclesiastes 8:4 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. {shall...: Heb. shall know}
Ecclesiastes 8:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man {is} great upon him.
Ecclesiastes 8:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? {when...: or, how it shall be?}
Ecclesiastes 8:7 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
{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. {discharge: or, casting off weapons}
Ecclesiastes 8:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
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.
Ecclesiastes 8:9 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
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.
Ecclesiastes 8:10 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
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.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
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:
Ecclesiastes 8:12 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
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.
Ecclesiastes 8:13 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
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.
Ecclesiastes 8:14 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
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.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
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:)
Ecclesiastes 8:16 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
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 further; though a wise {man} think to know {it}, yet shall he not be able to find {it}.
Ecclesiastes 8:17 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.