Ecclesiastes 8:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Who is like the wise person, and who knows the meaning of things? The wisdom of a person brightens their face, and the hardness of their face is softened.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face shall be changed.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    Who is as the wise{H2450} man? and who knoweth{H3045} the interpretation{H6592} of a thing?{H1697} A man's{H120} wisdom{H2451} maketh his face{H6440} to shine,{H215} and the hardness{H5797} of his face{H6440} is changed.{H8132}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    Who is as the wise{H2450} man? and who knoweth{H3045}{(H8802)} the interpretation{H6592} of a thing{H1697}? a man's{H120} wisdom{H2451} maketh his face{H6440} to shine{H215}{(H8686)}, and the boldness{H5797} of his face{H6440} shall be changed{H8132}{(H8792)}.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    where as no man hath wy?dome & vnderstodinge, to geue answere there vnto. Wy?dome maketh a mas face to shyne, but malice putteth it out of fauoure.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? the wisedome of a man doth make his face to shine: and the strength of his face shalbe changed.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Who is wise? who hath knowledge to make an aunswere? A mans wysdome maketh his face to shine: but vnshamefastnes putteth it out of fauour.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    ¶ Who [is] as the wise [man]? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    Who `is' as the wise? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of man causeth his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    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.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    Human Government Demonstrates Limitations of Wisdom Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.

Referenced Verses

  • Deut 28:50 : 50 It will be a fierce and ruthless nation, showing no respect for the old and no mercy for the young.
  • Acts 6:15 : 15 All who were sitting in the council looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
  • Prov 4:8-9 : 8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; she will honor you when you embrace her. 9 She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of splendor.
  • Exod 34:29-30 : 29 When Moses descended from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant in his hands, he was unaware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.
  • Eccl 2:13-14 : 13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. 14 The wise have eyes in their heads, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate overtakes them both.
  • Dan 2:28-30 : 28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions in your mind as you lay on your bed are as follows. 29 As for you, O king, your thoughts came into your mind while on your bed about what would happen in the future, and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what is to come. 30 But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me because of any wisdom that I have more than anyone else, but so that the interpretation may be made known to the king and that you may understand the thoughts of your heart.
  • Dan 2:47 : 47 The king spoke to Daniel, saying, "Truly, your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."
  • Dan 4:18-19 : 18 whose foliage was beautiful and fruit abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens nested— 19 you, O king, are that tree! You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your rule extends to the ends of the earth.
  • Matt 17:2 : 2 There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
  • Acts 4:13 : 13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.
  • Acts 4:29 : 29 'And now, Lord, consider their threats and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness.'
  • Job 33:23 : 23 But if there is a messenger for them, a mediator, one among a thousand, to declare to them what is right,
  • Prov 1:6 : 6 To understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
  • Gen 40:8 : 8 They said to him, 'We each had a dream, but there is no one to interpret it.' Joseph replied, 'Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.'
  • Gen 41:15-16 : 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that when you hear a dream, you can interpret it.' 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, 'It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.'
  • Gen 41:38-39 : 38 Then Pharaoh said to his officials, 'Can we find anyone like this man, in whom is the spirit of God?' 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.'
  • Prov 17:24 : 24 Wisdom is before the face of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
  • Prov 24:5 : 5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
  • 1 Cor 2:13-16 : 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit—explaining spiritual truths to spiritual people. 14 But the natural person does not accept the things of God's Spirit, because they are foolishness to him. He cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person examines all things, but he himself is not subject to being examined by anyone. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
  • Eph 6:19 : 19 Pray also for me, that words may be given to me to proclaim the mystery of the gospel boldly.
  • 2 Tim 4:17 : 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully made and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.
  • 2 Pet 1:20 : 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 8:2
    75%

    2 I advise you to obey the king's command and stay true to your oath made before God.

  • Eccl 8:4-5
    2 verses
    73%

    4 Since the king’s word has authority, who can question him, saying, 'What are you doing?'

    5 Whoever obeys a command will avoid harm, and the heart of the wise person knows the right time and the right way.

  • Prov 1:5-6
    2 verses
    73%

    5 Let the wise hear and increase their learning, and the one who understands gain guidance,

    6 To understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

  • Job 28:12
    73%

    12 But where can wisdom be found, and where is the place of understanding?

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    72%

    11 The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?

    12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

  • Eccl 2:12-14
    3 verses
    72%

    12 So I turned my attention to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can anyone do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

    13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.

    14 The wise have eyes in their heads, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate overtakes them both.

  • Eccl 6:8
    72%

    8 What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?

  • Job 28:20
    72%

    20 But where does wisdom come from, and where is the place of understanding?

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    72%

    16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to observe the work that is done on earth, even though people do not see sleep with their eyes day or night,

    17 then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.

  • Prov 3:13
    72%

    13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who obtains understanding.

  • Prov 8:1
    72%

    1 Does not wisdom call out? And does not understanding raise her voice?

  • Eccl 7:19
    71%

    19 Wisdom makes a wise person stronger than ten rulers in a city.

  • Jas 3:13
    71%

    13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his works by his good conduct with the humility that comes from wisdom.

  • Prov 24:5
    71%

    5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.

  • Job 15:8-9
    2 verses
    71%

    8 Have you listened to the secret counsel of God and limited wisdom to yourself?

    9 What do you know that we do not know? What insight do you have that is not with us?

  • Prov 14:8
    71%

    8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand their path, but the folly of fools is deceit.

  • Eccl 2:19
    71%

    19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.

  • Eccl 7:10-11
    2 verses
    71%

    10 Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions.

    11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and it is an advantage for those who see the light of day.

  • Job 28:28
    71%

    28 And He said to mankind, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'

  • Esth 1:13
    70%

    13 Then the king consulted the wise men who understood the times, for it was the king's custom to speak before all who understood law and judgment.

  • Eccl 8:7
    70%

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

  • Prov 8:14
    70%

    14 Counsel and wisdom belong to me; I have understanding and strength.

  • Job 38:36
    70%

    36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?

  • Prov 1:2
    70%

    2 To know wisdom and discipline, to understand words of insight,

  • Prov 28:11
    70%

    11 A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with understanding will see right through him.

  • Eccl 9:16
    70%

    16 So I said, 'Wisdom is better than strength.' But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.

  • Prov 12:8
    70%

    8 A person is praised according to their insight, but one with a twisted mind is despised.

  • Eccl 11:8
    70%

    8 For if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in all of them, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is meaningless.

  • Prov 8:11
    70%

    11 For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

  • Eccl 1:16-17
    2 verses
    70%

    16 I said to myself, 'Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled Jerusalem before me. I have experienced much wisdom and knowledge.'

    17 Then I set my heart to understand wisdom, as well as madness and folly, but I learned that this too is a chasing after the wind.

  • Prov 27:19
    70%

    19 As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the person.

  • Eccl 9:1
    70%

    1 So I reflected on all this and set my heart to examine it: that the righteous, the wise, and their deeds are in the hand of God. People do not know whether love or hatred awaits them; everything lies before them.

  • Job 32:9
    70%

    9 It is not merely the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.

  • Prov 21:29
    70%

    29 A wicked man hardens his face, but an upright person considers their way.

  • Job 12:3
    70%

    3 "But I too have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know things such as these?"

  • Eccl 7:25
    69%

    25 I turned my mind to understand, to investigate, and to search out wisdom and the meaning of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.

  • Prov 9:9
    69%

    9 Instruct the wise, and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous, and they will add to their learning.

  • Job 8:8
    69%

    8 Ask the previous generation, and give thought to the findings of their ancestors;

  • Eccl 9:13
    69%

    13 I also saw this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.

  • Prov 18:15
    69%

    15 The heart of the understanding one gains knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

  • Prov 19:8
    69%

    8 The one who acquires wisdom loves life, and the one who cherishes understanding will prosper.