Ecclesiastes 5:8 - Easy To Read Version In some country you might see poor people that are forced to work very hard. You might see that this is not fair to the poor people. It is against the rights of the poor people. But don’t be surprised! The ruler that forces those people to work has another ruler that forces him. And there is still another ruler that forces both of these rulers. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 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. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition If you see the oppression of the poor and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in the state or province, do not marvel at the matter. [Be sure that there are those who will attend to it] for a higher [official] than the high is observing, and higher ones are over them. American Standard Version (1901) 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. Common English Bible If you witness the poor being oppressed or the violation of what is just and right in some territory, don’t be surprised because a high official watches over another, and yet others stand over them. Catholic Public Domain Version But finally, there is the King who rules over the entire earth, which is subject to him. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Moreover there is the king that reigneth over all the land subject to him. |
Uzziah built towers in the desert. He also dug many wells. He had much cattle in the hill country and in the flat lands. Uzziah had farmers in the mountains and in the lands where growth was good. He also had men that took care of fields where grapes grew. He loved farming.
Evil people might feel safe and secure\par for a short time.\par They might want to be powerful.\par
But the Lord says:\par “Bad people stole from the poor people.\par They took things from helpless people.\par But now I will stand and defend those weary (tired) people.”\par
God stands in the assembly of the gods. {\cf2\super [472]} \par He is the judge in that meeting of the gods.\par
Then they will know that you are God.\par They will know your name is YAHWEH.\par They will know that you, God Most-High,\par are the God of the whole world!\par
Why? Because the Lord is a great God!\par He is the Great King ruling over\par all the other “gods.”\par
These two things will make you poor—hurting poor people to make yourself rich, and giving gifts to rich people.
You can’t say, “It’s none of my business.” The Lord knows everything. And he knows why you do things. The Lord watches you. He knows. And the Lord will reward you for the things you do.
I love people who love me.\par And if people try hard to find me,\par they will find me.\par
I also saw these things in this life. {\cf2\super [18]} I saw that the courts should be filled with goodness and fairness—but there is evil there now.
Again I saw that many people are treated badly. I saw their tears. And I saw that there was no one to comfort those sad people. I saw cruel people had all the power. And I saw that there was no one to comfort the people they hurt.
Even a wise man will forget his wisdom,\par if someone pays him enough money.\par That money destroys his understanding.\par
I saw all those things. I thought very hard about the things that happen in this world. And I saw that people always struggle for the power to rule other people. And this is bad for them.
My Master will finish doing the things he planned to Jerusalem and Mount Zion. {\cf2\super [116]} Then the Lord will punish Assyria. {\cf2\super [117]} The king of Assyria is very proud. His pride made him do many bad things. So God will punish him.
What gives you the right to hurt my people? What gives you the right to push the faces of the poor people into the dirt?” My Master, the Lord All-Powerful said these things.
\{That night,\} the angel of the Lord went out and killed 185,000 people in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up in the morning, they saw the dead bodies all around them.
The field of grapes that belongs to the Lord All-Powerful is the nation of Israel. The grapevine—the plant the Lord loves—is the man of Judah. {\cf2\super [48]}
God is high and lifted up.\par God lives forever.\par God’s name is holy.\par God says:\par I live in a high and holy place,\par but also with people that are\par sad and humble.\par I will give new life to the people\par that are humble in spirit.\par I will give new life to the people\par that are sad in their hearts.\par
The father might hurt people and steal things. He might never do anything good for my people! That father will die because of his own sins. \{But the son won’t be punished for his father’s sins.\}
Why? Because I know about your many sins.\par You have done some really bad things:\par You hurt people that do right.\par You accept money to do wrong.\par You keep justice from the poor people in court.\par
Do horses run over loose rocks? No!\par and people don’t use cows for plowing.\par But you turn everything upside down.\par You changed goodness to poison.\par You changed fairness to bitter poison.\par
You have taken nice houses\par away from the women of my people.\par You have taken my wealth\par away from their small children forever.\par
The survivors {\cf2\super [20]} will think it is wonderful. And I will think it is wonderful too!”
Then I will come to you—and I will do the right thing. I will be like a person that is ready to tell the judge about the bad things people did. Some people do evil magic. Some people do the sin of adultery. {\cf2\super [19]} Some people make false promises. Some people cheat their workers—they don’t pay them the money they promised. People don’t help widows and orphans. {\cf2\super [20]} People don’t help strangers. People don’t respect me!” The Lord All-Powerful said these things.
He will be great (important). People will call him the Son of the Most High (God). The Lord God will make him king like his ancestor David. {\cf2\super [12]}
The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [15]} will come to you and the power of the Most High (God) will cover you. The baby will be holy. He will be called the Son of God.
“Now you, little boy, will be called a prophet {\cf2\super [25]} of the Most High (God).\par You will go first before the Lord\par to make the people ready\par for the Lord’s coming.\par
Herod \{accepted this praise and\} did not give the glory to God. So an angel of the Lord caused him to become sick. He was eaten by worms inside him, and he died.
Yes, God’s riches are very great! God’s wisdom and knowledge have no end! No person can explain the things God decides. No person can understand God’s ways.
Yes, you must show mercy to other people. If you do not show mercy, then God will not show mercy to you when he judges you. But the person who shows mercy can stand without fear when he is judged.
My friends, don’t be surprised at the painful things that you are now suffering. Those things are testing your faith. Don’t think that something strange is happening to you.
Brothers and sisters, don’t be surprised when the people of this world hate you.