Parallel Verses
A Conservative Version
If thou see the oppression of a poor man, and the violent wresting of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter. For [a man] higher than the high is observing, and there are higher [men] than they.
New American Standard Bible
If you see
King James Version
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.
Holman Bible
If you see oppression of the poor
International Standard Version
Don't be surprised when you see the poor oppressed and the violent perverting both justice and verdicts in a province, for one high official watches another, and there are ones higher still over them.
American Standard Version
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.
Amplified
If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight [of corruption]; for a higher official watches over another official, and there are higher ones over them [looking out for one another].
Bible in Basic English
If you see the poor under a cruel yoke, and law and right being violently overturned in a country, be not surprised, because one authority is keeping watch on another and there are higher than they.
Darby Translation
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.
Julia Smith Translation
If thou shalt see the oppression of the poor one, and the spoiling of judgment and justice in a province, thou shalt not wonder at the inclination: for the high one above the high one is watching, and the high ones over them.
King James 2000
If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for the high official is watched by a higher one; and there are yet higher ones over them.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Do not be surprised if you see the poor being oppressed with violence or [do not see] justice and righteousness in the province. For one official is watched by a higher official, and [there are] even higher officials over them!
Modern King James verseion
If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, do not marvel at the matter. For He who is higher than the highest watches; and there are some higher than they.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
If thou seest the poor to be oppressed and wrongfully dealt withal, so that equity and the right of the law is wrested in the land: marvel not thou at such judgment, for one great man keepeth touch with another, and the mighty help themselves together.
NET Bible
If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!
New Heart English Bible
If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, do not marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.
The Emphasized Bible
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.
Webster
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.
World English Bible
If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don't marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.
Youngs Literal Translation
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.
Interlinear
Ra'ah
Mishpat
Gaboahh
Gaboahh
Shamar
References
American
Fausets
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 5:8
Verse Info
Context Readings
Powerful Bureaucrats Exploit The Helpless Poor
7 For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words. But fear thou God. 8 If thou see the oppression of a poor man, and the violent wresting of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter. For [a man] higher than the high is observing, and there are higher [men] than they. 9 Moreover the abundance of the land is for all. The king [himself] is served by the field.
Cross References
Psalm 12:5
Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, now I will arise, says LORD. I will set him in the safety he gasps for.
Psalm 82:1
God stands in the congregation of God. He judges among the gods.
Ecclesiastes 3:16
And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
1 Kings 21:19-20
And thou shall speak to him, saying, Thus says LORD, Have thou killed and also taken possession? And thou shall speak to him, saying, Thus says LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, eve
1 Chronicles 21:15-16
And God sent an agent to Jerusalem to destroy it. And as he was about to destroy, LORD beheld, and he relented of the evil, and said to the destroying agent, It is enough. Now halt thy hand. And the agent of LORD was standing by th
Job 20:19-29
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
Job 27:8-23
For what is the hope of the profane, though he gets him gain, when God takes away his soul?
Psalm 10:17-18
LORD, thou have heard the desire of the humble. Thou will prepare their heart, thou will cause thine ear to hear,
Psalm 55:9
Destroy, O LORD, divide their tongue, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Psalm 58:10-11
A righteous man shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,
Psalm 83:18
that they may know that thou alone, whose name is LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.
Psalm 95:3
For LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Psalm 140:11-12
An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth. Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently shall find me.
Isaiah 3:15
What do ye mean that ye crush my people, and grind the face of the poor? says the Lord, LORD of hosts.
Isaiah 5:7
For the vineyard of LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant. And he looked for justice, but, behold, oppression, for righteousness, but, behold, a cry.
Isaiah 10:5-7
Ho, Assyrian, the rod of my anger, the staff in whose hand is my indignation!
Isaiah 10:12
Therefore it shall come to pass, that, when LORD has performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
Isaiah 37:36
And the agent of LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand. And when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.
Isaiah 46:10-11
declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure,
Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart o
Isaiah 59:13-16
transgressing and denying LORD, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Jeremiah 22:17-19
But thine eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for shedding innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
Ezekiel 22:6-14
Behold, the rulers of Israel, each one according to his power, have been in thee to shed blood.
Amos 5:12
For I know how manifold are your transgressions, and how mighty are your sins--ye who afflict the just man, who take a bribe, and who turn aside the needy in the gate [from their right].
Amos 6:2-6
Pass ye to Calneh, and see, and from there go ye to Hamath the great, then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are they better than these kingdoms? Or is their border greater than your border?
Amos 6:12
Shall horses run upon the rock? Will [a man] plow [there] with oxen? That ye have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood,
Amos 8:4-7
Hear this, O ye who would swallow up a needy man, and cause the poor of the land to fail,
Micah 2:1-3
Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.
Micah 2:9
Ye cast out the women of my people from their pleasant houses. Ye take away my glory from their young sons forever.
Micah 3:1-4
And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice?
Micah 3:9-12
Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice, and pervert all equity.
Micah 6:10-13
Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a scant measure that is abominable?
Habakkuk 1:2-3
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou will not hear? I cry out to thee of violence, and thou will not save.
Habakkuk 1:12-13
Are not thou from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, thou have ordained him for judgment, and thou, O Rock, have established him for correction.
Zechariah 7:9-13
Thus LORD of hosts has spoken, saying, Execute TRUE justice, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother.
Zechariah 8:6
Thus says LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes? says 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 the FALSE swearers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the f
Matthew 13:41-42
The Son of man will send forth his agents, and they will gather out of his kingdom all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing lawlessness,
Luke 1:32
This man will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.
Luke 1:35
And having answered, the agent said to her, Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow thee. Therefore also the holy thing that is begotten will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:76
And thou, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. For thou will go ahead, before the face of Lord, to prepare his ways,
Acts 4:27-28
For in truth, against thy holy Boy Jesus, whom thou anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,
Acts 12:7-10
And behold, an agent of Lord stood near, and light shone in the room. And after striking the side of Peter, he raised him up, saying, Get up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Acts 12:23
And immediately an agent of Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And after becoming worm-eaten, he expired.
Romans 11:33
O the depth of wealth, both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways beyond finding out!
James 2:13
For the judgment is merciless to him who did no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 5:2-7
Your wealth has decayed, and your garments have become moth-eaten.
1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, ye should not be surprised at the fieriness in you, which occurs for a trial to you, like a strange thing happening to you.
1 John 3:13
Marvel not, my brothers, if the world hates you.
Revelation 17:6-7
And I saw the woman drunken from the blood of the sanctified, and from the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And having seen her, I wondered with great amazement.