Parallel Verses
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.
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
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.
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 In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, it is more important to fear God. 8 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. 9 Also, the increase of the land belongs to everyone; the king himself is served by his field.
Cross References
Psalm 12:5
"Because the poor are being oppressed, because the needy are sighing, I will now arise," says the LORD, "I will establish in safety those who yearn for it."
Ecclesiastes 4:1
Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed there is no one to comfort them. Power is on the side of their oppressors; so they have no comforters.
Psalm 82:1
God takes his stand in the divine assembly; among the divine beings he renders judgment:
Ecclesiastes 3:16
I also examined on earth: where the halls of justice were supposed to be, there was lawlessness; and where the righteous were supposed to be, there was lawlessness. 17I told myself, "God will judge both the righteous and the wicked, because there is a time set to judge every event and every work."
1 Kings 21:19-20
Ask the king, "Did you commit murder? And now you're going to steal as well?' Also tell him, "This is what the LORD says: "Where the dogs were licking up Naboth's blood, dogs will also lick up your blood that's right yours!"'"
1 Chronicles 21:15-16
God also sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but as he was about to do so, the LORD looked and withdrew the calamity by saying to the destroying angel, "Enough! Stop what you're doing!"
Job 20:19-29
because he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he didn't build.
Job 27:8-23
For where is the hope of the godless when he is eliminated; when God takes away his life?
Psalm 10:17-18
LORD, you heard the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen them, you will listen carefully,
Psalm 55:9
Confound them, Lord, and confuse their speech, because I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Psalm 58:10-11
The righteous person will rejoice when he sees your vengeance; when he washes his feet in the blood of the wicked.
Psalm 83:18
Then they will know that you alone whose name is LORD are the Most High over all the earth. To the Director: On the Gittith. A Psalm by the descendants of Korah.
Psalm 95:3
For the LORD is an awesome God; a great king above all divine beings.
Psalm 140:11-12
Let not the slanderer become established in the land. May evil quickly hunt down the violent man.
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me.
Isaiah 3:15
How dare you crush my people as you grind down the face of the poor?" declares the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies.
Isaiah 5:7
For the vineyard of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden in which he delights. He looked for justice, but saw only bloodshed; he searched for righteousness, but heard only an outcry!
Isaiah 10:5-7
"How terrible it will be for Assyria, the rod of my anger! The club is in their hands!
Isaiah 10:12
"For the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and against Jerusalem; he will punish the speech that comes from that willful heart of Assyria's king and the haughty look in his eyes.
Isaiah 37:36
After this, the angel of the LORD went out and put to death 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When Hezekiah's army awakened in the morning there were all the dead bodies!
Isaiah 46:10-11
I declare from the beginning things to follow, and from ancient times things that have not yet been done; saying, "My purpose will stand, and he will accomplish everything that I please.'
Isaiah 57:15
"For this is what the high and lofty One says, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "He lives in the height and in holiness, and also with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Isaiah 59:13-16
they've rebelled in treachery against the LORD, and are turning away from following our God; and they've spoken oppression and revolt, and are conceiving lying words from the heart.
Jeremiah 22:17-19
But your eyes and heart are on nothing but your dishonest gain, shedding the blood of innocent people, and practicing oppression and extortion."
Ezekiel 22:6-14
"""Watch out! Each of the princes of Israel has misused his authority to shed blood.
Amos 5:12
and because I know that your transgressions are many, and your sins are numerous as you oppose the righteous, taking bribes as a ransom, and turning away the poor in court
Amos 6:2-6
Cross over to Calneh and look around, then go on to that great city of Hamath, and from there go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory more extensive than yours?
Amos 6:12
"Horses don't run over bare rock, do they? One doesn't plow rock with oxen, does he? But you have turned justice to gall, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness.
Amos 8:4-7
"Hear this, you who are swallowing up the needy, who intend to make the poor of the land fail,
Micah 2:1-3
"Woe to those who are crafting iniquity, planning evil well into the night! When morning's light comes, they carry out their plans because they have the power to do so.
Micah 2:9
You have evicted the wives of my people from their dream homes; you have removed my majesty from their children permanently.
Micah 3:1-4
"He will say, "Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you officials of the house of Israel! You should know justice, should you not?
Micah 3:9-12
Please listen to this, you leaders of the house of Jacob, you officials of the house of Israel, you who hate administering justice, who pervert the very meaning of equity,
Micah 6:10-13
Are there still wicked treasures in the house of the wicked, along with deceitful and abominable measuring standards?
Habakkuk 1:2-3
"How long, LORD, must I cry out for help, but you won't listen? I'm crying out to you, "Violence!' but you aren't providing deliverance.
Habakkuk 1:12-13
"Haven't you existed forever, LORD my God, my Holy One? We won't die! LORD, you've prepared them for judgment; Rock, you've sentenced them to correction.
Zechariah 7:9-13
"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Administer true justice, and show gracious love and mercy toward each other.
Zechariah 8:6
"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "It may seem impossible to the survivors of this people, but is it impossible for me?' declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.
Malachi 3:5
"I'll come near to you for judgment. I'll be a witness, quick to speak against sorcerers, against adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who defraud the laborer of his wage, against those who defraud the widow and the orphan, against those who deprive the alien of justice, and against those who don't fear me," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.
Matthew 13:41-42
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes others to sin and those who practice lawlessness
Luke 1:32
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
Luke 1:35
The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:76
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way
Acts 4:27-28
For in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate actually met together with unbelievers and the people of Israel to oppose your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,
Acts 12:7-10
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on his side, woke him up, and said, "Get up quickly!" His chains fell from his wrists.
Acts 12:23
Immediately the angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Romans 11:33
O how deep are God's riches, and wisdom, and knowledge! How unfathomable are his decisions and unexplainable are his ways!
James 2:13
For the one who has shown no mercy will be judged without mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 5:2-7
Your riches are rotten, your clothes have been eaten by moths,
1 Peter 4:12
Dear friends, do not be surprised by the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
1 John 3:13
So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.
Revelation 17:6-7
I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. I was very surprised when I saw her.