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New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 8:1
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Who is as the wise man? and who knows the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of man makes his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
No one is like the wise person who can understand what things mean. Wisdom brings happiness; it makes sad faces happy.
Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person's wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.
Who [is] as the wise [man]? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom illumines his face, And causes his stern face to beam.
Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
The wisdom of a man schyneth in his cheer; and the myytieste schal chaunge his face.
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.
Who is smart enough to explain everything? Wisdom makes you cheerful and gives you a smile.
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Who is like the wise man? and to whom is the sense of anything clear? A man's wisdom makes his face shining, and his hard face will be changed.
Who can be compared with a wise person? Who else knows what a thing means? Wisdom lights up the face and softens a grim appearance.
Who is as the wise? and who knoweth the explanation of things? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face is changed.
No one can understand and explain things the way wise people can. Their wisdom makes them happy. It changes a sad face into a happy one.
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face is changed.
Who is as the Wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a mans wisedome maketh his face to shine, and the boldnes of his face shalbe changed.
Who is like the wise man? And who understands the meaning of anything? A man's wisdom makes his face shine. The hard look on his face is changed.
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? Wisdom makes one's face shine, and the hardness of one's countenance is changed.
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? the wisedome of a man doth make his face to shine: and the strength of his face shalbe changed.
WHO is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A mans wisdom makes his face to shine, but he who is impudent shall be hated.
Only the wise know what things really mean. Wisdom makes them smile and makes their frowns disappear.
Who is really a wise man, and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of a man, lighteth up his countenance, but, by defiance of countenance, one is disfigured.
The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mighty will change his face.
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his countenance is changed.
Who is wise? who hath knowledge to make an aunswere? A mans wysdome maketh his face to shine: but vnshamefastnes putteth it out of fauour.
Who knows the wise? and who knows the interpretation of a saying?
Who is like the wise person, and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A person’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
Who is like the sage? Who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Who is as the wise? And who knows the meaning of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the boldness of his face is changed.
Who [is] as the wise? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of man causeth his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
where as no man hath wy?dome & vnderstodinge, to geue answere there vnto. Wy?dome maketh a mas face to shyne, but malice putteth it out of fauoure.
There's nothing better than being wise, Knowing how to interpret the meaning of life. Wisdom puts light in the eyes, And gives gentleness to words and manners.
Who is like the wise person and who knows the meaning of a matter? A person's wisdom illuminates his face and makes his stern face brighten up.
Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed.
Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam.
Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom illumines his face and causes his stern face to beam.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
as the: Ecclesiastes 2:13, Ecclesiastes 2:14, 1 Corinthians 2:13-16
who knoweth: Genesis 40:8, Genesis 41:15, Genesis 41:16, Genesis 41:38, Genesis 41:39, Job 33:23, Proverbs 1:6, Daniel 2:28-30, Daniel 2:47, Daniel 4:18, Daniel 4:19, 2 Peter 1:20
a man's: Exodus 34:29, Exodus 34:30, Proverbs 4:8, Proverbs 4:9, Proverbs 17:24, Proverbs 24:5, Matthew 17:2, Acts 6:15
and the: Deuteronomy 28:50, Acts 4:13, Acts 4:29, Ephesians 6:19
boldness: Heb. strength, 2 Timothy 4:17
Reciprocal: Exodus 34:35 - General Psalms 104:15 - oil to make his Proverbs 12:8 - commended Proverbs 24:23 - things James 3:13 - is a
Cross-References
and released a raven. The bird flew back and forth until the floodwaters on the earth had dried up.
But the dove could find no place to land because the water still covered the ground. So it returned to the boat, and Noah held out his hand and drew the dove back inside.
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord , and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose.
As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night."
But God had listened to Abraham's request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.
Then God remembered Rachel's plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children.
God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land.
"Why did you beat your donkey those three times?" the angel of the Lord demanded. "Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.
The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the Lord once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord remembered her plea,
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Who is as the wise [man]?.... Who is as the first man, that was made upright, and was a wise man? not one of his sons. Or who is as the wise man, meaning himself? no man; he was the wisest of men; and yet he could not find out wisdom, and the reason of things, and the wickedness of folly, Ecclesiastes 7:25; how therefore should any other man? what can the man do that comes after the king? Or who is like to a wise man, to he compared to him for honour and dignity? none; not those of the highest birth and blood, of the greatest wealth and riches, or in the highest places of power and authority; a wise man is above them, they being without wisdom; and especially such as are wise to salvation; these are the excellent in the earth, and the most worthy among men. Or who is a truly wise man? is there really such a person in the world, that has got to the perfection of wisdom? not one; and very few they are that can, in a true and proper sense, be called wise men. The Targum is,
"who is a wise man, that can stand against the wisdom of the Lord?''
and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? or "a word" q? the word of God, which is not of private interpretation? none know it rightly, but such who have the Spirit of God, the enditer of the word: Christ is the interpreter, one among a thousand; and, next to him are those who have his mind, and rightly divide the word of truth. The Targum is,
"and to know the interpretation of the words in the prophets:''
this may be understood of the solution of any difficulties in things natural or civil; and of the interpretation of any of the works of God, either in nature or providence, as well as of his word; and he is a wise man, that not only has wisdom in himself, but is able to teach others, and make them wise; can solve doubts, remove difficulties, interpret nature, the works and word of God. Aben Ezra repeats the note of similitude from the former clause, and so it may be rendered, "Who is as he that knows the interpretation of a thing", or "word?" such an one as Solomon was, Proverbs 1:6;
a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine: as Moses, when he came down from the mount, full fraught with the knowledge of the will of God,
Exodus 34:29; and as Stephen, whose wisdom and spirit, by which he spoke, were irresistible, Acts 6:10; wisdom, which discovers itself in a man's words and actions, gives comeliness to his person, makes him look amiable and lovely in the eyes of others: or, it "enlightens his face" r; by it he is able to see the difference between truth and falsehood, and what is to be done and not done; what way he should walk in, and what he should shun and avoid;
and the boldness of his face shall be changed; the ferocity and austerity of his countenance, the impudence and inhumanity that appeared in him before, through his wisdom and knowledge, are changed into meekness, gentleness, and humanity; of an impudent, fierce, and badly behaved man, he becomes meek, modest, affable, and humane; this effect natural wisdom and knowledge has on men s; and much more spiritual and evangelical wisdom, which comes from above, and is first pure, then peaceable and gentle, James 3:17. Some read it, "the strength of his face shall be doubled", or "renewed" t; he shall be changed into the same image, from glory to glory; his spiritual strength shall be renewed, and his light and knowledge increase yet more and more, 2 Corinthians 3:18. But Gussetius u renders it, his "boldness", or impudence, "shall be hated".
q ××ר "verbi", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus. r ת××ר ×¤× ×× "illustrati", Vatablus, Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus "illuminat", Cocceius, Gejerus, Rambachius, so Broughton. s "Adde quod ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes, emollit mores, nec sinit esse feros", Ovid. de Ponto, l. 2. Eleg. 9. t ×ש×× × "duplicatur", Junius Tremellius, Varenius "instauratur", Cocceius, Gejerus. u Ebr. Comment. p. 595. so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
And who - Rather, and as he who knoweth. The possessor of wisdom excels other people: it imparts serenity to his countenance, and removes the expression of gloom or fierceness (see the marginal reference).
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
CHAPTER VIII
A man's wisdom makes his face shine, 1.
Kings are to be greatly respected, 2-4.
Of him who keeps the commandment; of the misery of man; of the
certainty of death, 5-8.
Of him that rules another to his own hurt, 9.
The end of the wicked, 10.
God's longsuffering, 11, 12.
It shall be ill with wicked men, 13.
Strange events in the course of Providence, 14, 15.
God's works cannot be found out, 16, 17.
NOTES ON CHAP. VIII
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:1. Who knoweth the interpretation — פשר pesher, a pure Chaldee word, found nowhere else in the Bible but in the Chaldee parts of Daniel. "A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine." Every state of the heart shines through the countenance; but there is such an evidence of the contented, happy, pure, benevolent state of the soul in the face of a truly pious man, that it must be observed, and cannot be mistaken. In the Hebrew the former clause of this verse ends the preceding chapter. Who has ever been deceived in the appearance of the face that belonged to a savage heart? Those who represent, by painting or otherwise, a wise man, with a gravely sour face, striking awe and forbidding approach, have either mistaken the man, or are unacquainted with some essential principles of their art.
The boldness of his face shall be changed. — Instead of ××©× × yeshunne, which signifies shall be hated, many of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. have ××©× × yeshunneh, shall be changed or doubled. Hence the verse might be read, "The wisdom of a man shall illuminate his face; and the strength of his countenance shall be doubled." He shall speak with full confidence and conviction on a subject which he perfectly understands, and all will feel the weight of his observations.
