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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

ECCLESIASTES

CHAPTER EIGHT:
COUNSEL ON A LIFE OF GLADNESS

Summary

Solomon gives advice regarding political power. The righteous and unrighteous are contrasted. Another running summary is given that encourages finding gladness in life under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 8:1-9 – Political Power

EC8:1 Who is truly the wise person? Who knows how to interpret something? 199 A wise person’s presence illuminates, and the mere appearance of his face softens. 200

199

Who is truly the wise person? Who knows how to interpret something: Or, Who is like the wise man? and to whom is the sense of anything clear; JPS: and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing; NET: who knows the solution to a problem. [Proverbs 1:5; 3:35; 15:7, 31] One is reminded of James 3:13. One example was Daniel. [Daniel chapter 2, 4]

200

A wise person’s presence illuminates, and the mere appearance of his face softens: Or, BAS: A man’s wisdom makes his face shining, and his hard face will be changed; LXX: A man’s wisdom will lighten his countenance; but a man of shameless countenance will be hated; RHM: but by defiance of countenance one is disfigured; YLT: the hardness of his face is changed; BER: the crudeness of his face becomes refined. Literally, the phrase reads in Hebrew: “wisdom makes face shine.” The LXX Greek is “wisdom lights a wise man’s face.” True wisdom affects the facial expression of the wise person, for knowing the answer or solution of a matter breeds confidence. Such a strong and confident “face” [or, presence, expression] alters or changes the attitude of others. [Proverbs 4:8]

EC8:2 I tell you: Obey the commands of the king out of respect for God’s own stated purpose. 201

201

Obey the commands of the king out of respect for God’s own stated purpose: Or, BAS: Keep the king’s law, from respect for the oath of God; DAR: Keep the king’s law, from respect for the oath of God; LXX: Observe the commandment of the king, and that because of the word [LOGOU] of the oath of God; NET: because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him; SPR: even because thou has spoken the oath unto God; GDS: because of the divine oath; RSV: because of your sacred oath; MOF: you swore him loyalty; NAB: in view of your oath to God. There are two views: it is the “oath” of the worshipper to be obedient to the king of Israel; or, it is God’s oath or promise regarding the king. [Proverbs 24:21] Christians are to be obedient to governments as long as it does not break God’s law. [Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13]

EC8:3 Do not hastily rush out of [the king’s] presence, nor take a stand on something disagreeable. For the king will do as he pleases. 202

202

Do not hastily rush out of [the king’s] presence, nor take a stand on something disagreeable. For the king will do as he pleases: Or, BAS: Be not quick to go from before him. Be not fixed in an evil design, because he does whatever is pleasing to him; GDS: do not stand firm in a bad cause; RSV: do not delay when the matter is unpleasant; MOF: never thwart him; NAB: do not join in with a base plot. The bottom line is that the king has the power and in the end he will do as he pleases. Compare Ecclesiastes 10:4. [Proverbs 20:2]

EC8:4 There is great authority in the king’s order and no one is going to ask him, “What are you doing?” 203

203

There is great authority in the king’s order and no one is going to ask him, “What are you doing: Or, BAS: The word of a king has authority; and who may say to him, What is this you are doing; MOF: the king’s word is supreme; JB: the word of the king is paramount; TAY: the king’s command is backed by great power. [Romans 13:1] The Greek’s concluded that the best form of government was a “benevolent monarchy,” and so in this context above the king ruled by “divine right” though the subjects may consent to this rule. The permission of human government is by the pleasure of The God. In modern democracies it is the people who rule through their appointed representatives. However, the essential principle of civil obedience remains unchanged.

EC8:5 Whoever obeys the king’s commandment will never experience [his] displeasure. The heart of the wise person will discern the proper time and manner. 204

204

Whoever obeys the king’s commandment will never experience [his] displeasure. The heart of the wise person will discern the proper time and manner: Or, BAS: Whoever keeps the law will come to no evil; BER: whoever observes the royal order will experience no harm; MOF: he who obeys the royal command will never come to harm. The “law of the land” is to be observed by the Christian community as though it were God’s law. [Romans 3:3, 5; 1 Peter 3:13] Only the lawless need fear civil law. [1 Timothy 1:9] The Christian need not get involved in “civil disobedience.” [Romans 12:17-19] The Christian is to go “the extra mile” in this regard, even as the Nazarene taught. [Matthew 5:41, 42]

EC8:6 For there is a time and manner for every agreeable objective, realizing that human irritation is considerable. 205

205

For there is a time and manner for every agreeable objective, realizing that human irritation is considerable: Or, BAS: For every purpose there is a time and a decision, because the sorrow of man is great in him; JPS: For to every matter there is a time and judgment; for the evil of man is great upon him; LXX: For to every thing there is time and judgement; for the knowledge of a man is great to him; RHM: of time and manner will the heart of the wise take note; BER: time and procedure; NEB: a wise man knows in his heart the right time and method for action; MOF: the wise heart know there is a time of judgment coming; JB: the wise man knows there will be a time of judgment; TAY: find a time and a way to do what he says. Some render the phrase with regard to the coming judgment of God, while others understand it is the petitioner before the king that should learn to know time and manner. [1 Samuel 26:10; Psalm 37:7] The wise person knows one must wait until the “time and procedure” is right and proper before offering suggestions to the king.

EC8:7 No one can predict the future. So when something is to happen no one can tell. 206

206

No one can predict the future. So when something is to happen no one can tell: Or, BAS: No one is certain what is to be, and who is able to say to him when it will be. [Ecclesiastes 3:17] The winds of political change – let alone God’s intervention in human affairs – makes prediction impossible. In addition, no one knows when the death of someone will change matters.

EC8:8 Just as no one has power over the wind to control the wind so no one has control over the day of death. 207 Just as no solider is discharged during a battle, so lawlessness will never deliver the lawless. 208

207

Just as no one has power over the wind to control the wind so no one has control over the day of death: Or, BAS: No man has authority over the wind, to keep the wind; or is ruler over the day of his death; JPS: There is no man that hath power over the wind to retain the wind; neither hath he power over the day of death; LXX: There is no man that has power over the spirit [PNEUMATI] to retain the spirit [PNEUMA]; and there is no power in the day of death; GDS: the breath of life man must resign at last: the day of death he cannot determine. [Psalm 89:48; 104:29; 146:4] Compare Ecclesiastes 12:7. [Job 34:14] Note the Nazarene’s analogy of “wind’ at John 3:8.

208

Just as no solider is discharged during a battle, so lawlessness will never deliver the lawless: Or, BAS: In war no man’s time is free, and evil will not keep the sinner safe; JPS: and there is no discharge in war; neither shall wickedness deliver him that is given to it; LXX: neither shall ungodliness [ASEBEIA] save her votary; KNX: nor sin discharge to the sinner. [Psalm 9:17; 52:5; Proverbs 14:32]

EC8:9 I had watched everything – trying to apply my heart to every activity done under the sun – and so I observed this: there are times when a single person has complete control and uses it to harm others. 209

209

I had watched everything – trying to apply my heart to every activity done under the sun – and so I observed this: there are times when a single person has complete control and uses it to harm others: Or, BAS: All this have I seen, and have given my heart to all the work which is done under the sun: there is a time when man has power over man for his destruction; JPS: one man had power over another to his hurt; LXX: all the things wherein man has power over man to afflict him; RSV: while man lords its over man to his hurt; NAB: one man tyrannizes over another to his hurt. History is filled with such tyrants and modern times have experienced the harmful rule of Hitler and Stalin causing the deaths of untold millions. A Biblical example is Pharaoh. [Exodus 1:14] Compare motives and actions at Micah 7:3.

Ecclesiastes 8:10-14 – The Righteous and Unrighteous

EC8:10 In addition I noticed the lawless coming and going at the Holy Place, leaving to brag to the whole town about what they had done. A problem of complete futility! 210

210

In addition I noticed the lawless coming and going at the Holy Place, leaving to brag to the whole town about what they had done. A problem of complete futility: Or, BAS: And then I saw evil men put to rest, taken even from the holy place; and they went about and were praised in the town because of what they had done. This again is to no purpose; JPS: And so I saw the wicked buried, and they entered into their rest; but they that had done right went away from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city; this also is vanity; LXX: And then I saw the ungodly carried into the tombs, and that out of the holy place: and they departed, and were praised in the city, because they had done thus: this also is vanity. There are several opinions on the uncertain Hebrew here. One view is that wicked persons are buried and then people forget how bad they were. Another, is the hypocrisy of those who go to the Temple and then tell everyone about their piety. On the latter see the Nazarene at Matthew 6:1-8; 23:5.

EC8:11 The human heart tends to harmfulness, all because the sentence against a harmful act is not carried out quickly. 211

211

The human heart tends to harmfulness, all because the sentence against a harmful act is not carried out quickly: Or, BAS: Because punishment for an evil work comes not quickly, the minds of the sons of men are fully given to doing evil; LXX: Because there is no contradiction made on the part of those who do evil quickly, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully determined in them to do evil; NEB: it is because sentence upon a wicked act is not promptly carried out that men do evil so boldly. Criminal punishment is a deterrence to crime. [Romans 13:3] In a larger perspective evil men abound because God appears slow in His judgment. It is a truism that human beings tend to lawfulness because they are aware of civil punishment for breaking the law. Anyone who disagrees with this should remember the last time they slowed their car when they saw a policeman.

EC8:12 Even though a sinner persists in habitual wickedness a hundred times over, persisting in the same course of action, 212 I am quite aware that it will still go well for those who fear The God, standing in His presence awe-struck. 213

212	Even though a sinner persists in habitual wickedness a hundred times over, persisting in the same course of action: Or, BAS: Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his life is long. [Isaiah 26:10; 2 Peter 3:9] There are some “sinners” so habituated they will never repent.

213

I am quite aware that it will still go well for those who fear The God, standing in His presence awe-struck: Or, BAS: I am certain that it will be well for those who go in fear of God and are in fear before him; LXX: nevertheless I know, that it is well with them that fear [PHOBOUMENOIS] God [TON THEON], that they may fear [PHOBONTAI] before him. [Psalm 115:13; 2 Peter 2:9] At the end of the day it is the righteous and God-fearing who will experience deliverance and everlasting life.

EC8:13 However, because someone does not stand in awe of The God it will not go well for such lawless persons, and unlike a shadow they will not stretch out their life. 214

214

However, because someone does not stand in awe of The God it will not go well for such lawless persons, and unlike a shadow they will not stretch out their life: Or, BAS: But it will not be well for the evil-doer; he will not make his days long like a shade, because he has no fear before God; LXX: but it shall not be well with the ungodly [ASEBEI], and he shall not prolong his days, which are as a shadow [SKIA]; forasmuch as he fears [PHOBOUMENOS] not before God [TOU THEOU]. [Job 18:5; Psalm 11:5; 37:10; 2 Peter 2:12]

EC8:14 And here is another problem in futility that happens on earth: righteous persons being punished for what the unrighteous do. 215 And so also there are times when a wicked person receives the award meant for a righteous person. I told myself: A problem in complete futility! 216

215

And here is another problem in futility that happens on earth: righteous persons being punished for what the unrighteous do: Or, BAS: There is a thing which is to no purpose done on the earth: that there are good men to whom is given the same punishment as those who are evil; LXX: There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there are righteous persons to whom it happens according to the doing of the ungodly. Compare Ecclesiastes 7:15. A prime example is that of Jesus Christ. [Matthew 27:22]

216

And so also there are times when a wicked person receives the award meant for a righteous person. I told myself: A problem in complete futility: Or, BAS: and there are evil men who get the reward of the good. I say that this again is to no purpose; LXX: and there are ungodly men, to whom it happens according to the doing of the just: I said, This is also vanity. [Psalm 37:7; 73:12; Malachi 3:15]

Ecclesiastes 8:15-17 – A Summary

EC8:15 [Despite the above] I still commend happiness and satisfaction. 217 Because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be satisfied. 218 Such joy will remain with such a person during all that hard labor throughout all the days The God has provided under the sun. 219

217

I still commend happiness and satisfaction: Or, BAS: So I gave praise to joy; JPS: So I commended mirth; LXX: I praised mirth; RHM: extolled I gladness; RSV: commended enjoyment; BAG: pleasurable enjoyment; MOF: I praise pleasure; NET: enjoyment of life. Pleasure, happiness, joy, gladness, satisfaction are not wrong in themselves. Despite the grave futility of life under the sun it is God’s gift that humanity find pleasure and happiness in such existence. Return to Ecclesiastes 3:12. [Philippians 4:4] Vanity, or complete futility, is the norm of human existence, but where possible believers should find joy and happiness in what they have.

218

Because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be satisfied: Or, BAS: because there is nothing better for a man to do under the sun than to take meat and drink and be happy; LXX: to eat, and to drink, and to be merry. The LXX Greek is PHAGEIN KAI TOU PIEIN, and though probably drawing form another source, Paul uses similar language at 1 Corinthians 15:32 – PHAGOMEN KAI PIOMEN. Such eating and drinking to satisfaction is not the only principle as Solomon will go on to show. Return to Ecclesiastes 2:24.

219

Such joy will remain with such a person during all that hard labor throughout all the days The God has provided under the sun: Or, BAS: for that will be with him in his work all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun. Eating and drinking in gladness is God’s gift to humanity and that should remain with each one throughout all their days of burden on earth. Return to Ecclesiastes 1:3; 2:24.

EC8:16 In the end – after giving my heart to learning wisdom – examining all the activity done under the sun – day and night not permitting my eyes to rest 220 –

220

In the end – after giving my heart to learning wisdom – examining all the activity done under the sun – day and night not permitting my eyes to rest: Or, BAS: When I gave my mind to the knowledge of wisdom and to seeing the business which is done on the earth (and there are those whose eyes see not sleep by day or by night); JPS: When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth—for neither day nor night do men see sleep with their eyes. Compare Ecclesiastes 1:13; 2:23; 7:25.

EC8:17 after considering all the activity The God has done – activity under the sun no human could discover despite a person’s fruitless toil in searching – if a wise person claimed to know, indeed, even such could never discover it all. 221

221

After considering all the activity The God has done – activity under the sun no human could discover despite a person’s fruitless toil in searching – if a wise person claimed to know, indeed, even such could never discover it all: Or, BAS: Then I saw all the work of God, and that man may not get knowledge of the work which is done under the sun; because, if a man gives hard work to the search he will not get knowledge, and even if the wise man seems to be coming to the end of his search, still he will be without knowledge; JPS: then I beheld all the work of God, that 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; LXX: And I beheld all the works of God, that a man shall not be able to discover the work which is wrought under the sun; whatsoever things a man shall endeavour to seek, however a man may labour to seek it, yet he shall not find it; yea, how much soever a wise man may speak of knowing it, he shall not be able to find it: for I applied all this to my heart, and my heart has seen all this. Return to Ecclesiastes 3:11; 7:24. Compare Ecclesiastes 11:5.