Ecclesiastes 8:9

All this I have seen so as to give my heart to every work that has been done under the sun; a time that man has ruled over man to his own evil.

Literal Standard Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

8There is no man ruling over the spirit to restrain the spirit, and there is no authority over the day of death, and there is no discharge in battle, and wickedness does not deliver its possessors.

10And so I have seen the wicked buried, and they went in, even from the Holy Place they go, and they are forgotten in the city whether they had so done. This [is] also vanity.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 8

Cross References

Exodus 14:28and the waters turn back, and cover the chariots and the horsemen, even all the force of Pharaoh, who are coming in after them into the sea—there has not been left even one of them.

2 Kings 14:10You have certainly struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up; be honored, and abide in your house; and why do you stir yourself up in evil, that you have fallen, you and Judah with you?”

Ecclesiastes 1:14I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and behold, the whole [is] vanity and distress of spirit!

Ecclesiastes 4:7And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun:

Ecclesiastes 5:8If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness you see in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones [are] over them.

Ecclesiastes 7:25I have turned around, also my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and reason, and to know the wrong of folly, and the madness of foolishness.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 8:7-9

The Certainty of Death. 6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? 8 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. Solomon had said ( v. 5 ) that a wise man's heart discerns time and judgment, that is, a man's… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 8:9