Geneva Study Bible 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. Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face {a} to shine, and {b} the boldness of his face shall be changed.
(a) That is, gets him favour and prosperity. (b) While before he was proud and arrogant, he will become humble and meek. I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. I counsel thee to keep the king's {c} commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
(c) That is, that you obey the king and keep the oath that you have made for the same cause. Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. {d} Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatever pleaseth him.
(d) Do not withdraw from yourself lightly from the obedience of your prince. Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. He who keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both {e} time and judgment.
(e) That is, when time is to obey, and how far he should obey. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the {f} misery of man is great upon him.
(f) Man by himself is miserable, and therefore should do nothing to increase the same, but to work all things by wisdom and counsel. For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
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. There is no man that hath power {g} 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.
(g) Man has no power to save his own life and therefore must not rashly cast himself into danger. 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. All this have I seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: there is a time in which one man ruleth over another to his own {h} hurt.
(h) As comes often to tyrants and wicked rulers. 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. And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and {i} gone from the {k} place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.
(i) That is, others as wicked as they. (k) They who feared God and worshipped him as he had appointed. 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. Because sentence against an evil work is not {l} executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
(l) Where justice is delayed, there sin reigns. 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: 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:
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. 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.
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. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there are just men, to whom it happeneth according to the {m} work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
(m) Who are punished as though they were wicked, as in Ec 7:17 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. Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than {n} 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.
(n) Read Geneva Ec 3:22 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:) 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:)
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. 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 farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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