Ecclesiastes 8:9
New International Version
All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt.

New Living Translation
I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other.

English Standard Version
All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.

Berean Standard Bible
All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment.

King James Bible
All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

New King James Version
All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.

New American Standard Bible
All this I have seen, and have applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun at a time when one person has exercised authority over another person to his detriment.

NASB 1995
All this I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt.

NASB 1977
All this I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt.

Legacy Standard Bible
All this I have seen and given my heart to every work that has been done under the sun wherein a man has power over another man to his calamity.

Amplified Bible
All this I have seen while applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has exercised power over others to their detriment.

Christian Standard Bible
All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one person has authority over another to his harm.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one man has authority over another to his harm.

American Standard Version
All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man hath power over another to his hurt.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And I have seen all this and I have given my heart to know all work that is done under the sun, and the time when a man is authorized over a son of man to afflict him

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So I saw all this, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun; all the things wherein man has power over man to afflict him.

Contemporary English Version
I noticed all this and thought seriously about what goes on in the world. Why does one person have the power to hurt another?

Douay-Rheims Bible
All these things I have considered, and applied my heart to all the works that are done under the sun. Sometimes one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

English Revised Version
All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man hath power over another to his hurt.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I have seen all of this, and I have carefully considered all that is done under the sun whenever one person has authority to hurt others.

Good News Translation
I saw all this when I thought about the things that are done in this world, a world where some people have power and others have to suffer under them.

International Standard Version
I observed all this, and carefully considered everything that is undertaken on earth, especially the time when someone dominates another to his detriment.

JPS Tanakh 1917
All this have I seen, even applied my heart thereto, whatever the work that is done under the sun; what time one man had power over another to his hurt.

Literal Standard Version
All this I have seen so as to give my heart to every work that has been done under the sun; a time that man has ruled over man to his own evil.

Majority Standard Bible
All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment.

New American Bible
All these things I saw and I applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun, while one person tyrannizes over another for harm.

NET Bible
While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.

New Revised Standard Version
All this I observed, applying my mind to all that is done under the sun, while one person exercises authority over another to the other’s hurt.

New Heart English Bible
All this have I seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.

Webster's Bible Translation
All this have I seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: there is a time in which one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

World English Bible
All this I have seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.

Young's Literal Translation
All this I have seen so as to give my heart to every work that hath been done under the sun; a time that man hath ruled over man to his own evil.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Obey the King
8As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it. 9All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment.

Cross References
Ecclesiastes 3:16
Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

Ecclesiastes 4:1
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 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.

Ecclesiastes 7:7
Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.


Treasury of Scripture

All this have I seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man rules over another to his own hurt.

this

Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 3:10
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

Ecclesiastes 4:7,8
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun…

there is

Ecclesiastes 5:8,13
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…

Exodus 14:5-9,28
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? …

Deuteronomy 2:30
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

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Applied Applying Authority Deed Destruction Evil Exercised Heart Hurt Lords Mind Observed Others Power Ruled Ruleth Sun Thereto Time Whatever Wherein Work
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Applied Applying Authority Deed Destruction Evil Exercised Heart Hurt Lords Mind Observed Others Power Ruled Ruleth Sun Thereto Time Whatever Wherein Work
Ecclesiastes 8
1. true wisdom is modest
2. Kings are to be respected
6. Divine providence is to be observed
12. It is better with the godly in adversity, than with the wicked in prosperity
16. The work of God is unsearchable














(9) Own hurt.--The Hebrew is ambiguous. We might omit "own," and understand the verse of the misery inflicted by a tyrant on his subject, not on himself. But the context speaks of the small gain from his oppressions to the tyrant himself.

Verse 9. - All this have I seen (Ecclesiastes 5:18; Ecclesiastes 7:23); i.e. all that has been mentioned in the preceding eight verses, especially the conviction of retributive justice. He gained this experience by giving his mind to the consideration of men's actions. There is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt. This version is certainly incorrect. A new sentence is not commenced here, but the clause is closely connected with what precedes; and "his own hurt" should he "his [equivocally] hurt." Thus Wright and Volck: "All this have I seen, even by applying my heart to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when man ruleth over man to his hurt." Most modern commentators consider that the hurt is that of the oppressed subject; but it is possible that the sense is intentionally ambiguous, and the injury may be that which the despot inflicts, and that which he has to suffer. Both these have been signified above. There is no valid reason for making, as Cox does, this last clause commence ver. 10, and rendering, "But there is a time when a man ruleth over men to their hurt."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

this
זֶ֤ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

I have seen,
רָאִ֙יתִי֙ (rā·’î·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

applying
וְנָת֣וֹן (wə·nā·ṯō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

my mind
לִבִּ֔י (lib·bî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

to every
לְכָֽל־ (lə·ḵāl)
Preposition | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

deed
מַעֲשֶׂ֔ה (ma·‘ă·śeh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

that
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

is done
נַעֲשָׂ֖ה (na·‘ă·śāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

under
תַּ֣חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

the sun;
הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ (haš·šā·meš)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 8121: The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement

[there is] a time
עֵ֗ת (‘êṯ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

when
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

one man
הָאָדָ֛ם (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

lords it
שָׁלַ֧ט (šā·laṭ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7980: To dominate, govern, to permit

over another
בְּאָדָ֖ם (bə·’ā·ḏām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

to his own detriment.
לְרַ֥ע (lə·ra‘)
Preposition | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 8:9 All this have I seen and applied (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
Ecclesiastes 8:8
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