Bible verse

Ecclesiastes 8:4

For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

Ecclesiastes 8:4 · BSB

Ecclesiastes 8:4 in context

The verses around it, from Ecclesiastes 8.

1 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.

2 Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God.

3 Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.

4 For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

5 Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure.

6 For there is a right time and procedure to every purpose, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him.

7 Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?

8 As 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.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 8

Ecclesiastes 8:4 in other translations

KJV

Where the word of a king [is, there is] power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

ASV

For the king’s word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

ERV

Because the king’s word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

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Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible, which is free of copyright restrictions for use on websites. Read the full Bible on Great Faith.