Ecclesiastes 5:8 “If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and ri…”

Ecclesiastes 5:8

If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

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.

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.

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

And the abundance of the earth is ouer all: the King also consisteth by the fielde that is tilled.

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.

Young's 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.

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.

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Cross references

“thou seest”

Psalm 12:5 Ecclesiastes 4:1 Ecclesiastes 3:16 Psalm 55:9 Proverbs 8:17 Psalm 58:11

Psalm 12:5 · BSB

“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

Ecclesiastes 4:1 · BSB

Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.

Ecclesiastes 3:16 · BSB

Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

Psalm 55:9 · BSB

O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.

Proverbs 8:17 · BSB

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

Psalm 58:11 · BSB

Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

“marvel”

Zechariah 8:6 1 John 3:13 Revelation 17:6 Revelation 17:7

Zechariah 8:6 · BSB

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “If this is impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be impossible in My eyes?” declares the LORD of Hosts.

1 John 3:13 · BSB

So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.

Revelation 17:6 · BSB

I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.

Revelation 17:7 · BSB

“Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.

“matter”

Isaiah 10:5–7 Isaiah 10:12 Romans 11:33 Isaiah 46:10 Isaiah 46:11 Habakkuk 1:12

Isaiah 10:5–7 · BSB

Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath.

Isaiah 10:12 · BSB

So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes.

Romans 11:33 · BSB

O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

Isaiah 46:10 · BSB

I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

Isaiah 46:11 · BSB

I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.

Habakkuk 1:12 · BSB

Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. O LORD, You have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, You have established them for correction.

“for”

Isaiah 57:15 Luke 1:32 Luke 1:35 Luke 1:76

Isaiah 57:15 · BSB

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive th…

Luke 1:32 · BSB

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,

Luke 1:35 · BSB

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:76 · BSB

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,

“regardeth”

Psalm 82:1 Job 27:8–23 Psalm 83:18 Isaiah 3:15 Isaiah 5:7 Isaiah 59:13–16

Psalm 82:1 · BSB

God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods:

Job 27:8–23 · BSB

For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?

Psalm 83:18 · BSB

May they know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are Most High over all the earth.

Isaiah 3:15 · BSB

Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

Isaiah 5:7 · BSB

For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress.

Isaiah 59:13–16 · BSB

rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart.

“higher than they”

Psalm 95:3 Isaiah 37:36 Acts 12:7–10 Acts 12:23 1 Chronicles 21:15 1 Chronicles 21:16

Psalm 95:3 · BSB

For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.

Isaiah 37:36 · BSB

Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!

Acts 12:7–10 · BSB

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.

Acts 12:23 · BSB

Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

1 Chronicles 21:15 · BSB

Then God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented from the calamity, and He said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At tha…

1 Chronicles 21:16 · BSB

When David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.

Also

1 Peter 4:12

1 Peter 4:12 · BSB

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

7For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

9The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

Read Ecclesiastes 5