Ecclesiastes 8:2

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Ecclesiastes 8:1–4 · Berean Standard Bible

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.

2 Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath 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.

4 For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

Hebrew words

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Proverbs 24:21

My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.

Romans 13:1

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

Romans 13:2

Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Romans 13:3

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.

Romans 13:4

For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

Titus 3:1

Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,

1 Peter 2:13

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,

1 Peter 2:14

or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

1 Peter 2:15

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.

1 Peter 2:16

Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

1 Peter 2:17

Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

1 Kings 2:43

So why have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the command that I gave you?”

1 Chronicles 29:24

All the officials and mighty men, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.

Ezekiel 17:13

He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land,

Ezekiel 17:14

so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant.

Ezekiel 17:15

But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’

Ezekiel 17:16

‘As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who enthroned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke.

Ezekiel 17:17

Pharaoh with his mighty army and vast horde will not help him in battle, when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives.

Ezekiel 17:18

He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Seeing that he gave his hand in pledge yet did all these things, he will not escape!’

Ezekiel 17:19

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘As surely as I live, I will bring down upon his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke.

Ezekiel 17:20

I will spread My net over him and catch him in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there for the treason he committed against Me.

Romans 13:5

Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.