Ecclesiastes 8:2

Bible in Basic English (1941)

I say to you, Keep the king's law, from respect for the oath of God.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 1 Kgs 2:43 : 43 Why then have you not kept the oath of the Lord and the order which I gave you?
  • 1 Chr 29:24 : 24 And all the chiefs and the men of war and all the sons of King David put themselves under the authority of Solomon the king.
  • Prov 24:21 : 21 My son, go in fear of the Lord and the king: have nothing to do with those who are in high positions:
  • Ezek 17:13-20 : 13 And he took one of the sons of the king and made an agreement with him; and he put him under an oath, and took away the great men of the land: 14 So that the kingdom might be made low with no power of lifting itself up, but might keep his agreement to be his servants. 15 But he went against his authority in sending representatives to Egypt to get from them horses and a great army. Will he do well? will he be safe who does such things? if the agreement is broken will he be safe? 16 By my life, says the Lord, truly in the place of the king who made him king, whose oath he put on one side and let his agreement with him be broken, even in Babylon he will come to his death. 17 And Pharaoh with his strong army and great forces will be no help to him in the war, when they put up earthworks and make strong walls for the cutting off of lives: 18 For he put his oath on one side in letting the agreement be broken; and though he had given his hand to it, he did all these things; he will not get away safe. 19 And so the Lord has said, By my life, truly, for my oath which he put on one side, and my agreement which has been broken, I will send punishment on his head. 20 My net will be stretched out over him, and he will be taken in my cords, and I will send him to Babylon, and there I will be his judge for the wrong which he has done against me.
  • Rom 13:1-5 : 1 Let everyone put himself under the authority of the higher powers, because there is no power which is not of God, and all powers are ordered by God. 2 For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise; 4 For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God's servant, making God's punishment come on the evil-doer. 5 So put yourselves under the authority, not for fear of wrath, but because you have the knowledge of what is right.
  • Titus 3:1 : 1 Make clear to them that they are to put themselves under rulers and authorities, to do what they are ordered, to be ready for every good work,
  • 1 Pet 2:13-17 : 13 Keep all the laws of men because of the Lord; those of the king, who is over all, 14 And those of the rulers who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of those who do well. 15 Because it is God's pleasure that foolish and narrow-minded men may be put to shame by your good behaviour: 16 As those who are free, not using your free position as a cover for wrongdoing, but living as the servants of God; 17 Have respect for all, loving the brothers, fearing God, honouring the king.
  • Exod 22:11 : 11 If he takes his oath before the Lord that he has not put his hand to his neighbour's goods, the owner is to take his word for it and he will not have to make payment for it.
  • 2 Sam 21:7 : 7 But the king did not give up Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the Lord's oath made between David and Jonathan, the son of Saul.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 8:3-5
    3 verses
    79%

    3 Be not quick to go from before him. Be not fixed in an evil design, because he does whatever is pleasing to him.

    4 The word of a king has authority; and who may say to him, What is this you are doing?

    5 Whoever keeps the law will come to no evil: and a wise man's heart has knowledge of time and of decision.

  • 75%

    42 Then the king sent for Shimei, and said to him, Did I not make you take an oath by the Lord, protesting to you and saying, Be certain that on the day when you go out from here, wherever you go, death will overtake you? and you said to me, Very well!

    43 Why then have you not kept the oath of the Lord and the order which I gave you?

  • 1 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.

  • 21 My son, go in fear of the Lord and the king: have nothing to do with those who are in high positions:

  • 11 Then take care that you are not turned away from the Lord your God and from keeping his orders and decisions and laws which I give you this day:

  • 10 So now be wise, you kings: take his teaching, you judges of the earth.

  • Prov 25:6-7
    2 verses
    72%

    6 Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:

    7 For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.

  • 3 And keep the orders of the Lord your God, walking in his ways, keeping his laws and his orders and his rules and his words, as they are recorded in the law of Moses; so that you may do well in all you do and wherever you go,

  • Eccl 5:1-2
    2 verses
    71%

    1 Be not unwise with your mouth, and let not your heart be quick to say anything before God, because God is in heaven and you are on the earth--so let not the number of your words be great.

    2 As a dream comes from much business, so the voice of a foolish man comes with words in great number.

  • 13 And the king said to the wise men, who had knowledge of the times, (for this was the king's way with all who were expert in law and in the giving of decisions:

  • 19 Give ear now to my suggestion, and may God be with you: you are to be the people's representative before God, taking their causes to him:

  • 11 So keep the orders and the laws and the decisions which I give you today and do them.

  • 28 You may not say evil of the judges, or put a curse on the ruler of your people.

  • 21 Do not give ear to all the words which men say, for fear of hearing the curses of your servant.

  • 27 For this cause, O King, let my suggestion be pleasing to you, and let your sins be covered by righteousness and your evil-doing by mercy to the poor, so that the time of your well-being may be longer.

  • 17 Have respect for all, loving the brothers, fearing God, honouring the king.

  • 23 Whatever is ordered by the God of heaven, let it be done completely for the house of the God of heaven; so that there may not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons.

  • 6 Then keep the orders of the Lord your God, fearing him and walking in his ways.

  • 1 My son, keep my sayings, and let my rules be stored up with you.

  • 4 It is better not to take an oath than to take an oath and not keep it.

  • 1 My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:

  • 25 So now, O Lord, the God of Israel, let your word to your servant David, my father, come true, when you said, You will never be without a man to take his place on the seat of the kingdom of Israel before me, if only your children give attention to their ways, walking before me as you have done.

  • 8 Now, my son, do what I say.

  • 1 When you take your seat at the feast with a ruler, give thought with care to what is before you;

  • 1 <Of Solomon.> Give the king your authority, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son.

  • 6 So be guided by your wisdom, and let not his white head go down to the underworld in peace.

  • 20 Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,

  • 10 Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.

  • 9 So keep the words of this agreement and do them, so that it may be well for you in everything you do.

  • 4 You have put your orders into our hearts, so that we might keep them with care.

  • 22 Be certain to do this with all care: do not let trouble be increased to the king's damage.

  • 31 If a man does wrong to his neighbour, and has to take an oath, and comes before your altar to take his oath in this house:

  • 2 And Moses said to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, This is the order of the Lord.

  • 2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.

  • 11 Wise purposes will be watching over you, and knowledge will keep you;

  • 8 Happy are your wives, happy are these your servants whose place is ever before you, hearing your words of wisdom.

  • 15 And the king said to him, Have I not, again and again, put you on your oath to say nothing to me but what is true in the name of the Lord?

  • 14 The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.

  • 12 So now, let me make a suggestion, so that you may keep your life safe and the life of your son Solomon.

  • 8 All the chief rulers of the kingdom, the chiefs and the captains, the wise men and the rulers, have made a common decision to put in force a law having the king's authority, and to give a strong order, that whoever makes any request to any god or man but you, O King, for thirty days, is to be put into the lions' hole.

  • 8 My son, give ear to the training of your father, and do not give up the teaching of your mother:

  • 20 My son, keep the rule of your father, and have in memory the teaching of your mother:

  • 61 Then let your hearts be without sin before the Lord our God, walking in his laws and keeping his orders as at this day.

  • 2 So that you may be ruled by a wise purpose, and your lips may keep knowledge.

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