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Ecclesiastes

Chapter 8

1 Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.
מִ֚י

Who
כְּהֶ֣חָכָ֔ם
kə·he·ḥā·ḵām
is like the wise man ?
וּמִ֥י
ū·mî
Who
יוֹדֵ֖עַ
yō·w·ḏê·a‘
knows
פֵּ֣שֶׁר
pê·šer
the interpretation
דָּבָ֑ר
dā·ḇār
of a matter ?
אָדָם֙
’ā·ḏām
A man’s
חָכְמַ֤ת
ḥā·ḵə·maṯ
wisdom
תָּאִ֣יר
tā·’îr
brightens
פָּנָ֔יו
pā·nāw
his face ,
וְעֹ֥ז
wə·‘ōz
and the sternness
פָּנָ֖יו
pā·nāw
of his face
יְשֻׁנֶּֽא׃
yə·šun·ne
is changed .
2 Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God.
שְׁמ֔וֹר
šə·mō·wr
Keep
מֶ֣לֶךְ
me·leḵ
the king’s
פִּי־
pî-
command ,
אֲנִי֙
’ă·nî
I say ,
וְעַ֕ל
wə·‘al
because of
דִּבְרַ֖ת
diḇ·raṯ
. . .
שְׁבוּעַ֥ת
šə·ḇū·‘aṯ
your oath
אֱלֹהִֽים׃
’ĕ·lō·hîm
before God .
3 Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.
אַל־
’al-
Do not
תִּבָּהֵ֤ל
tib·bā·hêl
hasten
תֵּלֵ֔ךְ
tê·lêḵ
to leave
מִפָּנָיו֙
mip·pā·nāw
his presence ,
אַֽל־
’al-
and do not
תַּעֲמֹ֖ד
ta·‘ă·mōḏ
persist
רָ֑ע
rā‘
in a bad
בְּדָבָ֣ר
bə·ḏā·ḇār
cause ,
כִּ֛י

for
יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃
ya·‘ă·śeh
he will do
כָּל־
kāl-
whatever
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
’ă·šer
-
יַחְפֹּ֖ץ
yaḥ·pōṣ
he pleases .
4 For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר
ba·’ă·šer
For
מֶ֖לֶךְ
me·leḵ
the king’s
דְּבַר־
də·ḇar-
word
שִׁלְט֑וֹן
šil·ṭō·wn
is supreme ,
וּמִ֥י
ū·mî
and who
יֹֽאמַר־
yō·mar-
can say
ל֖וֹ
lōw
to him ,
מַֽה־
mah-
“ What
תַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃
ta·‘ă·śeh
are you doing ? ”
5 Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure.
שׁוֹמֵ֣ר
šō·w·mêr
Whoever keeps
מִצְוָ֔ה
miṣ·wāh
his command
יֵדַ֖ע
yê·ḏa‘
will come to
דָּבָ֣ר
dā·ḇār
. . .
לֹ֥א

no
רָ֑ע
rā‘
harm ,
חָכָֽם׃
ḥā·ḵām
and a wise
לֵ֥ב
lêḇ
heart
יֵדַ֖ע
yê·ḏa‘
knows
וְעֵ֣ת
wə·‘êṯ
the right time
וּמִשְׁפָּ֔ט
ū·miš·pāṭ
and procedure .
6 For there is a right time and procedure to every purpose, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him.
כִּ֣י

For
יֵ֖שׁ
yêš
there is
עֵ֣ת
‘êṯ
a right time
וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט
ū·miš·pāṭ
and procedure
לְכָל־
lə·ḵāl
to every
חֵ֔פֶץ
ḥê·p̄eṣ
purpose ,
כִּֽי־
kî-
though
הָאָדָ֖ם
hā·’ā·ḏām
a man’s
רָעַ֥ת
rā·‘aṯ
misery
רַבָּ֥ה
rab·bāh
weighs heavily
עָלָֽיו׃
‘ā·lāw
upon him .
7 Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?
כִּֽי־
kî-
Since
אֵינֶ֥נּוּ
’ê·nen·nū
no one
יֹדֵ֖עַ
yō·ḏê·a‘
knows
מַה־
mah-
what
שֶּׁיִּֽהְיֶ֑ה
še·yih·yeh
will happen ,
מִ֖י

who
יַגִּ֥יד
yag·gîḏ
can tell
לֽוֹ׃
lōw
him
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר
ka·’ă·šer
what
יִֽהְיֶ֔ה
yih·yeh
is to come ?
8 As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
אֵ֣ין
’ên
As no
אָדָ֞ם
’ā·ḏām
man
שַׁלִּ֤יט
šal·lîṭ
has power
בָּר֙וּחַ֙
bā·rū·aḥ
over the wind
לִכְל֣וֹא
liḵ·lō·w
to contain
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
הָר֔וּחַ
hā·rū·aḥ
[it] ,
וְאֵ֤ין
wə·’ên
so no one
שִׁלְטוֹן֙
šil·ṭō·wn
has authority
בְּי֣וֹם
bə·yō·wm
over [his] day
הַמָּ֔וֶת
ham·mā·weṯ
of death .
וְאֵ֥ין
wə·’ên
As no one
מִשְׁלַ֖חַת
miš·la·ḥaṯ
can be discharged
בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה
bam·mil·ḥā·māh
in wartime ,
רֶ֖שַׁע
re·ša‘
so wickedness
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
וְלֹֽא־
wə·lō-
will not
יְמַלֵּ֥ט
yə·mal·lêṭ
release
בְּעָלָֽיו׃
bə·‘ā·lāw
those who practice it .
9 All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment.
כָּל־
kāl-
All
זֶ֤ה
zeh
this
רָאִ֙יתִי֙
rā·’î·ṯî
I have seen ,
וְנָת֣וֹן
wə·nā·ṯō·wn
applying
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
לִבִּ֔י
lib·bî
my mind
לְכָֽל־
lə·ḵāl
to every
מַעֲשֶׂ֔ה
ma·‘ă·śeh
deed
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
’ă·šer
that
נַעֲשָׂ֖ה
na·‘ă·śāh
is done
תַּ֣חַת
ta·ḥaṯ
under
הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ
haš·šā·meš
the sun ;
עֵ֗ת
‘êṯ
[there is] a time
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
’ă·šer
when
הָאָדָ֛ם
hā·’ā·ḏām
one man
שָׁלַ֧ט
šā·laṭ
lords it
בְּאָדָ֖ם
bə·’ā·ḏām
over another
לְרַ֥ע
lə·ra‘
to his own detriment
אֶת־
’eṯ-
.
10 Then too, I saw the burial of the wicked who used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they had done so. This too is futile.
וּבְכֵ֡ן
ū·ḇə·ḵên
Then too ,
רָאִיתִי֩
rā·’î·ṯî
I saw
קְבֻרִ֜ים
qə·ḇu·rîm
the burial
רְשָׁעִ֨ים
rə·šā·‘îm
of the wicked
וָבָ֗אוּ
wā·ḇā·’ū
who used to go in
יְהַלֵּ֔כוּ
yə·hal·lê·ḵū
and out
קָדוֹשׁ֙
qā·ḏō·wōš
of the holy
וּמִמְּק֤וֹם
ū·mim·mə·qō·wm
place ,
וְיִֽשְׁתַּכְּח֥וּ
wə·yiš·tak·kə·ḥū
and they were praised
בָעִ֖יר
ḇā·‘îr
in the city
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
’ă·šer
where
עָשׂ֑וּ
‘ā·śū
they had done
כֵּן־
kên-
so .
זֶ֖ה
zeh
This
גַּם־
gam-
too
הָֽבֶל׃
hā·ḇel
is futile .
11 When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.
אֲשֶׁר֙
’ă·šer
When
פִתְגָ֔ם
p̄iṯ·ḡām
the sentence
הָרָעָ֖ה
hā·rā·‘āh
for a crime
מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה
ma·‘ă·śêh
. . .
אֵין־
’ên-
is not
מְהֵרָ֑ה
mə·hê·rāh
speedily
נַעֲשָׂ֣ה
na·‘ă·śāh
executed ,
עַל־
‘al-
. . .
כֵּ֡ן
kên
. . .
לֵ֧ב
lêḇ
the hearts
בְּֽנֵי־
bə·nê-
vvv
הָאָדָ֛ם
hā·’ā·ḏām
of men
מָלֵ֞א
mā·lê
become fully set
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת
la·‘ă·śō·wṯ
on doing
רָֽע׃
rā‘
evil .
12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
’ă·šer
Although
חֹטֶ֗א
ḥō·ṭe
a sinner
עֹשֶׂ֥ה
‘ō·śeh
does
רָ֛ע
rā‘
evil
מְאַ֖ת
mə·’aṯ
a hundred [times]
וּמַאֲרִ֣יךְ
ū·ma·’ă·rîḵ
and still lives long
ל֑וֹ
lōw
,
כִּ֚י

yet
אָ֔נִי
’ā·nî
I
גַּם־
gam-
also
יוֹדֵ֣עַ
yō·w·ḏê·a‘
know
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
’ă·šer
that
יִהְיֶה־
yih·yeh-
it will go
טּוֹב֙
ṭō·wḇ
well
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
’ă·šer
with those who
יִֽירְא֖וּ
yî·rə·’ū
fear
הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים
hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
God ,
לְיִרְאֵ֣י
lə·yir·’ê
who are reverent
מִלְּפָנָֽיו׃
mil·lə·p̄ā·nāw
in His presence .
13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.
אֲשֶׁ֛ר
’ă·šer
Yet because
אֵינֶ֥נּוּ
’ê·nen·nū
[the wicked] do not
יָרֵ֖א
yā·rê
fear
מִלִּפְנֵ֥י
mil·lip̄·nê
. . .
אֱלֹהִֽים׃
’ĕ·lō·hîm
God ,
לֹֽא־
lō-
it will not
יִהְיֶ֣ה
yih·yeh
go
וְטוֹב֙
wə·ṭō·wḇ
well
לָֽרָשָׁ֔ע
lā·rā·šā‘
with [them] ,
יָמִ֖ים
yā·mîm
and their days
וְלֹֽא־
wə·lō-
will not
יַאֲרִ֥יךְ
ya·’ă·rîḵ
lengthen
כַּצֵּ֑ל
kaṣ·ṣêl
like a shadow .
14 There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.
יֶשׁ־
yeš-
There is
הֶבֶל֮
he·ḇel
a futility
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
’ă·šer
that
נַעֲשָׂ֣ה
na·‘ă·śāh
is done
עַל־
‘al-
on
הָאָרֶץ֒
hā·’ā·reṣ
the earth :
יֵ֣שׁ
yêš
There are
צַדִּיקִ֗ים
ṣad·dî·qîm
righteous [men]
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
’ă·šer
-
אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀
’ă·šer
who
מַגִּ֤יעַ
mag·gî·a‘
get
אֲלֵהֶם֙
’ă·lê·hem
. . .
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה
kə·ma·‘ă·śêh
what the actions
הָרְשָׁעִ֔ים
hā·rə·šā·‘îm
of the wicked [deserve] ,
וְיֵ֣שׁ
wə·yêš
and there are
רְשָׁעִ֔ים
rə·šā·‘îm
wicked [men]
אֲלֵהֶ֖ם
’ă·lê·hem
who
שֶׁמַּגִּ֥יעַ
šem·mag·gî·a‘
get
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה
kə·ma·‘ă·śêh
what the actions
הַצַּדִּיקִ֑ים
haṣ·ṣad·dî·qîm
of the righteous deserve .
אָמַ֕רְתִּי
’ā·mar·tî
I say
זֶ֖ה
zeh
that this
שֶׁגַּם־
šeg·gam-
too
הָֽבֶל׃
hā·ḇel
is futile .
15 So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
אֲנִי֙
’ă·nî
So I
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
וְשִׁבַּ֤חְתִּֽי
wə·šib·baḥ·tî
commended
הַשִּׂמְחָ֔ה
haś·śim·ḥāh
the enjoyment of life ,
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
’ă·šer
because
אֵֽין־
’ên-
there is nothing
ט֤וֹב
ṭō·wḇ
better
לָֽאָדָם֙
lā·’ā·ḏām
for a man
תַּ֣חַת
ta·ḥaṯ
under
הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ
haš·še·meš
the sun
כִּ֛י

than
אִם־
’im-
. . .
לֶאֱכ֥וֹל
le·’ĕ·ḵō·wl
to eat
וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת
wə·liš·tō·wṯ
and drink
וְלִשְׂמ֑וֹחַ
wə·liś·mō·w·aḥ
and be merry .
וְה֞וּא
wə·hū
For this [joy]
יִלְוֶ֣נּוּ
yil·wen·nū
will accompany him
בַעֲמָל֗וֹ
ḇa·‘ă·mā·lōw
in his labor
יְמֵ֥י
yə·mê
during the days
חַיָּ֛יו
ḥay·yāw
of his life
אֲשֶׁר־
’ă·šer-
that
הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים
hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
God
נָֽתַן־
nā·ṯan-
gives
ל֥וֹ
lōw
him
תַּ֥חַת
ta·ḥaṯ
under
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
haš·šā·meš
the sun .
16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night—
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר
ka·’ă·šer
When
נָתַ֤תִּי
nā·ṯat·tî
I applied
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
לִבִּי֙
lib·bî
my mind
לָדַ֣עַת
lā·ḏa·‘aṯ
to know
חָכְמָ֔ה
ḥāḵ·māh
wisdom
וְלִרְאוֹת֙
wə·lir·’ō·wṯ
and to observe
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
הָ֣עִנְיָ֔ן
hā·‘in·yān
the task
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
’ă·šer
that
נַעֲשָׂ֖ה
na·‘ă·śāh
one performs
עַל־
‘al-
on
הָאָ֑רֶץ
hā·’ā·reṣ
the earth —
כִּ֣י

though
גַ֤ם
ḡam
. . .
בְּעֵינָ֖יו
bə·‘ê·nāw
his eyes
אֵינֶ֥נּוּ
’ê·nen·nū
do not
רֹאֶֽה׃
rō·’eh
see
שֵׁנָ֕ה
šê·nāh
sleep
בַּיּוֹם֙
bay·yō·wm
in the day
וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה
ū·ḇal·lay·lāh
or even in the night —
17 I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.
וְרָאִיתִי֮
wə·rā·’î·ṯî
I saw
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
כָּל־
kāl-
every
מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה
ma·‘ă·śêh
work
הָאֱלֹהִים֒
hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
of God ,
כִּי֩

and that
הָאָדָ֗ם
hā·’ā·ḏām
a man
לֹ֨א

is unable
יוּכַ֜ל
yū·ḵal
. . .
לִמְצוֹא֙
lim·ṣō·w
to comprehend
אֶת־
’eṯ-
-
הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂה֙
ham·ma·‘ă·śeh
the work
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
’ă·šer
that
נַעֲשָׂ֣ה
na·‘ă·śāh
is done
תַֽחַת־
ṯa·ḥaṯ-
under
הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ
haš·še·meš
the sun .
בְּ֠שֶׁל
bə·šel
Despite
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
’ă·šer
-
הָאָדָ֛ם
hā·’ā·ḏām
[his]
יַעֲמֹ֧ל
ya·‘ă·mōl
efforts
לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ
lə·ḇaq·qêš
to search it out ,
וְלֹ֣א
wə·lō
he cannot
יִמְצָ֑א
yim·ṣā
find [its meaning] ;
וְגַ֨ם
wə·ḡam
even
אִם־
’im-
if
הֶֽחָכָם֙
he·ḥā·ḵām
the wise
יֹאמַ֤ר
yō·mar
man claims
לָדַ֔עַת
lā·ḏa·‘aṯ
to know ,
לֹ֥א

he is unable
יוּכַ֖ל
yū·ḵal
. . .
לִמְצֹֽא׃
lim·ṣō
to comprehend .