Ecclesiastes 8:5
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Whoever keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Whoever keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man's heart discerneth time and judgment:
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Whoever keeps the law will come to no evil: and a wise man's heart has knowledge of time and of decision.
Webster's Revision
He who keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.
World English Bible
Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man's heart discerneth time and judgment:
Clarke's Ecclesiastes 8:5 Bible Commentary
Both time and judgment - It is a matter of great importance to be able to discern When and How both to speak and act; but when time and manner are both determined, the matter comes next. What shall I speak? What shall I do? When, how, and what answer to time, manner, and knitter. To discern all these, and act suitably, is a lesson for a philosopher, and a study for a Christian.
Barnes's Ecclesiastes 8:5 Bible Commentary
Feel - literally, know. The meaning is, "He who obeys the commandment (i. e., the word of the king, Ecclesiastes 8:4), will not be an accomplice in any act of rebellion; and if he be a wise man he discerns (literally knows) that the king's commandment or action is liable to correction, if it be wrong, in God's time and by God's judgment." Compare Ecclesiastes 3:11, Ecclesiastes 3:17.
Wesley's Ecclesiastes 8:5 Bible Commentary
8:5 The commandment - Solomon passes to a new subject.Shall feel - Shall be delivered from those mischiefs which befal the disobedient. Discerneth - Both when, and in what manner he must keep the commands of God.
