קהלת 8:3

Hebrew Modern Translation

אל תבהל מפניו תלך אל תעמד בדבר רע כי כל אשר יחפץ יעשה׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Aleppo Codex
אל תבהל מפניו תלך אל תעמד בדבר רע כי כל אשר יחפץ יעשה

Biblia Hebrica Stuttgartensia (1967/77)
אַל־תִּבָּהֵ֤ל מִפָּנָיו֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹ֖ד בְּדָבָ֣ר רָ֑ע כִּ֛י כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַחְפֹּ֖ץ יַעֲשֶֽׂה ׃

Westminster Leningrad Codex
אַל־תִּבָּהֵל מִפָּנָיו תֵּלֵךְ אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹד בְּדָבָר רָע כִּי כָּל־אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ יַעֲשֶֽׂה ׃

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

not hasty: Ecclesiastes 10:4, Proverbs 14:29

stand: 1 Kings 1:50-52, 1 Kings 2:21-24, Isaiah 48:4, Jeremiah 44:16, Jeremiah 44:17, Acts 5:8, Acts 5:9

for: Proverbs 16:14, Proverbs 16:15, Proverbs 30:31, Daniel 4:35, Daniel 5:19

Reciprocal: Proverbs 30:32 - thou hast done

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Be not hasty to go out of his sight,.... But of the sight of the King of kings. Do not think to hide thyself from him, for there is no fleeing from his presence, Psalms 139:7; it is best, when under some consternation, as the word y signifies, or under some fearful apprehension of his wrath and indignation, to fall down before him, acknowledge the offence, and pray for pardon: and to this purpose is the Targum,

"and in the time of the indignation of the Lord, do not cease to pray before him; being terrified (or troubled) before him, go and pray, and seek mercy of him;''

and with which agrees the note of Jarchi,

"be not troubled, saying that thou wilt go and free from his presence, to a place where he does not rule, for he rules in every place.''

Such who interpret this of an earthly king suppose this forbids a man going out from the presence of a king in a pet and passion, withdrawing himself from his court and service in a heat, at once;

stand not in an evil thing; having done it, continue not in it; but repent of it, acknowledge and forsake it, whether against God or an earthly king;

for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him; which best agrees with the King of kings, who does what he pleases, in heaven above and in earth below, both in nature, providence, and grace; see Job 23:13; though earthly kings indeed have long hands, as is usually said, and can reach a great way, and do great things, especially despotic and arbitrary princes, and it is very difficult escaping their hands. The Targum is,

"for the Lord of all worlds, the Lord will do what he pleases.''

y אל תבהל "ne consterneris", Gejerus, and some in Rambachius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Stand not ... - i. e., “Do not persist in rebellion.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ecclesiastes 8:3. Be not hasty — I consider the first five verses here as directions to courtiers, and the more immediate servants of kings.

Be steadily faithful to your sovereign. Do not stand in an evil thing. If you have done wrong, do not endeavour to vindicate yourself before him; it is of no use; his power is absolute, and he will do what he pleases. He will take his own view of the subject, and he will retain it. The language of a despotic sovereign was ever this, Sic volo sic jubeo, stat pro ratione voluntas; "I will this. I command that. No hesitation! My will is law!" Therefore it is added here, Where the word of a king is, there is power-influence, authority, and the sword. And who may say unto him, whether he acts right or wrong, What doest thou? Ecclesiastes 8:4. No wonder in such governments there are so many revolutions; but they are revolutions without amendment, as it is one tyrant rising up to destroy another, who, when seated in authority, acts in the way of his predecessor; till another, like himself, do to him as he has done to the former. In our country, after a long trial, we find that a mixed monarchy is the safest, best, and most useful form of government: we have had, it is true, unprincipled ministers, who wished to turn our limited into an absolute monarchy; and they were always ready to state that an absolute monarchy was best. Granted; provided the monarch be as wise, as holy, and as powerful as GOD!