ecclesiastes 5:8 if thou seest the oppression of the poor and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province marvel not at the matter for he that is higher than the highest regardeth and there be higher than they

Ecclesiastes 5:8

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for [he that is] higher than the highest regardeth; and [there be] higher than they.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there be higher than they.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perversion of judgment and justice in a province, wonder not at the matter: for [he that is] higher than the highest regardeth; and [there are] higher than they.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter; for a higher than the high is watching, and there are higher than they.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— If, the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of justice and righteousness, thou see in the province, do not be astonished over the matter,—for, one high above the highest, is watching, yea, the Most High, is over them.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness thou seest in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones [are] over them.
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— If thou shalt see the oppressions of the poor, and violent judgments, and justice perverted in the province, wonder not at this matter: for he that is high hath another higher, and there are others still higher than these:
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— If in a countrey thou seest the oppression of the poore, and the defrauding of iudgement and iustice, be not astonied at the matter: for hee that is higher then the highest, regardeth, and there be higher then they.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— If thou seest the oppression of the poore, and violent peruerting of iudgement, and iustice in a prouince, maruell not at the matter: for he that is higher then the highest, regardeth, and [there be] higher then they.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— If you see the oppression of the poor and violent perversion of judgment and justice in a city, do not marvel at the matter; for he who is higher than the highest is watching; and he who is higher is over them.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgment and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for [there is] a high one to watch over him that is high, and high ones over them.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for [he that is] higher than the highest regardeth; and [there be] higher than they.

If x518

(0518) Complement
אִם
'im
{eem}

A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogitive, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence as a negative, not.

thou seest 7200

{7200} Prime
רָאָה
ra'ah
{raw-aw'}

A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitively, intransitively and causatively).

z8799

<8799> Grammar

Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 19885

the oppression 6233

{6233} Prime
עֹשֶׁק
`osheq
{o'-shek}

From H6231; injury, fraud, (subjectively) distress, (concretely) unjust gain.

of the poor, 7326

{7326} Prime
רוּשׁ
ruwsh
{roosh}

A primitive root; to be destitute.

z8802

<8802> Grammar

Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Participle Active (See H8814)
Count - 5386

and violent y1499

[1499] Standard
גָּזֵל
gezel
{ghe'-zel}

From H1497; plunder, that is, violence.

perverting x1499

(1499) Complement
גָּזֵל
gezel
{ghe'-zel}

From H1497; plunder, that is, violence.

of judgment 4941

{4941} Prime
מִשְׁפָּט
mishpat
{mish-pawt'}

From H8199; properly a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (particularly) divine law, individual or collectively), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly justice, including a particular right, or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style.

and justice 6664

{6664} Prime
צֶדֶק
tsedeq
{tseh'-dek}

From H6663; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity.

in a province, 4082

{4082} Prime
מְדִינָה
m@diynah
{med-ee-naw'}

From H1777; properly a judgeship, that is, jurisdiction; by implication a district (as ruled by a judge); generally a region.

marvel 8539

{8539} Prime
תָּמַה
tamahh
{taw-mah'}

A primitive root; to be in consternation.

z8799

<8799> Grammar

Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 19885

not x408

(0408) Complement
אַל
'al
{al}

A negative particle (akin to H3808); not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing.

at x5921

(5921) Complement
עַל
`al
{al}

Properly the same as H5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural, often with prefix, or as conjugation with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications.

the matter: 2656

{2656} Prime
חֵפֶץ
chephets
{khay'-fets}

From H2654; pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind).

for x3588

(3588) Complement
כִּי
kiy
{kee}

A primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjugation or adverb; often largely modified by other particles annexed.

[he that is] higher 1364

{1364} Prime
גָּבֹהַּ
gaboahh
{gaw-bo'-ah}

From H1361; elevated (or elated), powerful, arrogant.

than x4480

(4480) Complement
מִן
min
{min}

For H4482; properly a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses.

x5921

(5921) Complement
עַל
`al
{al}

the highest 1364

{1364} Prime
גָּבֹהַּ
gaboahh
{gaw-bo'-ah}

From H1361; elevated (or elated), powerful, arrogant.

regardeth; 8104

{8104} Prime
שָׁמַר
shamar
{shaw-mar'}

A primitive root; properly to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc.

z8802

<8802> Grammar

Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Participle Active (See H8814)
Count - 5386

and [there be] higher 1364

{1364} Prime
גָּבֹהַּ
gaboahh
{gaw-bo'-ah}

From H1361; elevated (or elated), powerful, arrogant.

than x5921

(5921) Complement
עַל
`al
{al}

they. y5921

[5921] Standard
עַל
`al
{al}

Ecclesiastes 5:8

_ _ As in Ecclesiastes 3:16, so here the difficulty suggests itself. If God is so exact in even punishing hasty words (Ecclesiastes 5:1-6), why does He allow gross injustice? In the remote “provinces,” the “poor” often had to put themselves for protection from the inroads of Philistines, etc., under chieftains, who oppressed them even in Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 12:4).

_ _ the matter — literally, “the pleasure,” or purpose (Isaiah 53:10). Marvel not at this dispensation of God’s will, as if He had abandoned the world. Nay, there is coming a capital judgment at last, and an earnest of it in partial punishments of sinners meanwhile.

_ _ higher than the highest — (Daniel 7:18).

_ _ regardeth — (2 Chronicles 16:9).

_ _ there be higher — plural, that is, the three persons of the Godhead, or else, “regardeth not only the ‘highest’ kings, than whom He ‘is higher,’ but even the petty tyrants of the provinces, namely, the high ones who are above them” (the poor) [Weiss].

See commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:4-8.

Ecclesiastes 5:8

If — Here is an account of another vanity, and a sovereign antidote against it. Marvel not — As if it were inconsistent with God's wisdom, and justice, to suffer such disorders. For — The most high God who is infinitely above the greatest of men. Regardeth — Not like an idle spectator, but a judge, who diligently observes, and will effectually punish them. Higher — God: it is an emphatical repetition of the same thing.

Ecclesiastes 5:8

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, wonder not at the matter: for [he that is] ^(f) higher than the highest regardeth; and [there are] higher than they.

^(f) Meaning, that God will address these things, and therefore we must depend on him.

thou seest:
Ecclesiastes 3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, [that] wickedness [was] there; and the place of righteousness, [that] iniquity [was] there.
Ecclesiastes 4:1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of [such as were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no comforter.
Psalms 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.
Psalms 55:9 Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Psalms 58:11 So that a man shall say, Verily [there is] a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Habakkuk 1:2-3 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save! ... Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause [me] to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence [are] before me: and there are [that] raise up strife and contention.
Habakkuk 1:13 [Thou art] of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, [and] holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth [the man that is] more righteous than he?

marvel:
Zechariah 8:6 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
Revelation 17:6-7 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. ... And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

matter:
Heb. will, or purpose,
Isaiah 10:5-7 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. ... Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but [it is] in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
Isaiah 10:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, [that] when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
Isaiah 46:10-11 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: ... Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it.
Habakkuk 1:12 [Art] thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
Acts 4:27-28 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, ... For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

for:
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

regardeth:
1 Kings 21:19-20 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. ... And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found [thee]: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
Job 20:19-29 Because he hath oppressed [and] hath forsaken the poor; [because] he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; ... This [is] the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
Job 27:8-23 For what [is] the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? ... [Men] shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
Psalms 10:17-18 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: ... To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
Psalms 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.
Psalms 58:10-11 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. ... So that a man shall say, Verily [there is] a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
Psalms 82:1 [[A Psalm of Asaph.]] God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
Psalms 83:18 That [men] may know that thou, whose name alone [is] JEHOVAH, [art] the most high over all the earth.
Psalms 140:11-12 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow [him]. ... I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, [and] the right of the poor.
Isaiah 3:15 What mean ye [that] ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
Isaiah 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts [is] the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
Isaiah 59:13-16 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. ... And he saw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
Jeremiah 22:17-19 But thine eyes and thine heart [are] not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do [it]. ... He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 22:6-14 Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood. ... Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken [it], and will do [it].
Amos 5:12 For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate [from their right].
Amos 6:2-6 Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: [be they] better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? ... That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
Amos 6:12 Shall horses run upon the rock? will [one] plow [there] with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
Amos 8:4-7 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, ... The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.
Micah 2:1-3 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. ... Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time [is] evil.
Micah 2:9 The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
Micah 3:1-4 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; [Is it] not for you to know judgment? ... Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
Micah 3:9-12 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. ... Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed [as] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.
Micah 6:10-13 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure [that is] abominable? ... Therefore also will I make [thee] sick in smiting thee, in making [thee] desolate because of thy sins.
Zechariah 7:9-13 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: ... Therefore it is come to pass, [that] as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
Malachi 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in [his] wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [from his right], and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
James 5:2-7 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. ... Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

higher than they:
1 Chronicles 21:15-16 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. ... And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders [of Israel, who were] clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
Psalms 95:3 For the LORD [is] a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Isaiah 37:36 Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.
Matthew 13:41-42 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; ... And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Acts 12:7-10 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon [him], and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from [his] hands. ... When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
Acts 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

1K 21:19. 1Ch 21:15. Jb 20:19; 27:8. Ps 10:17; 12:5; 55:9; 58:10, 11; 82:1; 83:18; 95:3; 140:11. Pv 8:17. Ec 3:16; 4:1. Is 3:15; 5:7; 10:5, 12; 37:36; 46:10; 57:15; 59:13. Jr 22:17. Ezk 22:6. Am 5:12; 6:2, 12; 8:4. Mi 2:1, 9; 3:1, 9; 6:10. Hab 1:2, 12, 13. Zc 7:9; 8:6. Mal 3:5. Mt 13:41. Lk 1:32, 35, 76. Ac 4:27; 12:7, 23. Ro 11:33. Jm 2:13; 5:2. 1Jn 3:13. Rv 17:6.