Ecclesiastes 8:1

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Deut 28:50 : 50 a nation of stern appearance that will have no regard for the elderly or pity for the young.
  • Acts 6:15 : 15 All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel.
  • Prov 4:8-9 : 8 Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. 9 She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you.”
  • Exod 34:29-30 : 29 The Radiant Face of Moses Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand– when he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to approach him.
  • Eccl 2:13-14 : 13 I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness: 14 The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.
  • Dan 2:28-30 : 28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the times to come. The dream and the visions you had while lying on your bed are as follows. 29 “As for you, O king, while you were in your bed your thoughts turned to future things. The revealer of mysteries has made known to you what will take place. 30 As for me, this mystery was revealed to me not because I possess more wisdom than any other living person, but so that the king may understand the interpretation and comprehend the thoughts of your mind.
  • Dan 2:47 : 47 The king replied to Daniel,“Certainly your God is a God of gods and Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery!”
  • Dan 4:18-19 : 18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, for none of the wise men in my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation. But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.” 19 Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Then Daniel(whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time; his thoughts were alarming him. The king said,“Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.” But Belteshazzar replied,“Sir, if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries!
  • Matt 17:2 : 2 And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
  • Acts 4:13 : 13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus.
  • Acts 4:29 : 29 And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage,
  • Job 33:23 : 23 If there is an angel beside him, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what constitutes his uprightness;
  • Prov 1:6 : 6 To discern the meaning of a proverb and a parable, the sayings of the wise and their riddles.
  • Gen 40:8 : 8 They told him,“We both had dreams, but there is no one to interpret them.” Joseph responded,“Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me.”
  • Gen 41:15-16 : 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph,“I had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard about you, that you can interpret dreams.” 16 Joseph replied to Pharaoh,“It is not within my power, but God will speak concerning the welfare of Pharaoh.”
  • Gen 41:38-39 : 38 So Pharaoh asked his officials,“Can we find a man like Joseph, one in whom the Spirit of God is present?” 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph,“Because God has enabled you to know all this, there is no one as wise and discerning as you are!
  • Prov 17:24 : 24 Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.
  • Prov 24:5 : 5 A wise warrior is strong, and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;
  • 1 Cor 2:13-16 : 13 And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.
  • Eph 6:19 : 19 Pray for me also, that I may be given the right words when I begin to speak– that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel,
  • 2 Tim 4:17 : 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion’s mouth!
  • 2 Pet 1:20 : 20 Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination,

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%

    2Obey the king’s command, because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.

  • Eccl 8:4-5
    2 verses
    73%

    4Surely the king’s authority is absolute; no one can say to him,“What are you doing?”

    5Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm, and a wise person knows the proper time and procedure.

  • Prov 1:5-6
    2 verses
    73%

    5(Let the wise also hear and gain instruction, and let the discerning acquire guidance!)

    6To discern the meaning of a proverb and a parable, the sayings of the wise and their riddles.

  • Job 28:12
    73%

    12No Price Can Buy Wisdom“But wisdom– where can it be found? Where is the place of understanding?

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    72%

    11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

    12For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

  • Eccl 2:12-14
    3 verses
    72%

    12Wisdom is Better than Folly Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?

    13I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:

    14The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.

  • Eccl 6:8
    72%

    8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

  • Job 28:20
    72%

    20God Alone Has Wisdom“But wisdom– where does it come from? Where is the place of understanding?

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    72%

    16Limitations of Human Wisdom When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth– even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night–

    17then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.

  • Prov 3:13
    72%

    13Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom Blessed is the one who has found wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding.

  • Prov 8:1
    72%

    1The Appeal of Wisdom Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?

  • Eccl 7:19
    71%

    19Wisdom Needed Because No One is Truly Righteous Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.

  • Jas 3:13
    71%

    13True Wisdom Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.

  • Prov 24:5
    71%

    5A wise warrior is strong, and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;

  • Job 15:8-9
    2 verses
    71%

    8Do you listen in on God’s secret council? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

    9What do you know that we don’t know? What do you understand that we don’t understand?

  • Prov 14:8
    71%

    8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

  • Eccl 2:19
    71%

    19Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!

  • Eccl 7:10-11
    2 verses
    71%

    10Do not say,“Why were the old days better than these days?” for it is not wise to ask that.

    11Wisdom Can Lengthen One’s Life Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.

  • Job 28:28
    71%

    28And he said to mankind,‘The fear of the LORD– that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

  • Esth 1:13
    70%

    13The king then inquired of the wise men who were discerners of the times– for it was the royal custom to confer with all those who were proficient in laws and legalities.

  • Eccl 8:7
    70%

    7Surely no one knows the future, and no one can tell another person what will happen.

  • Prov 8:14
    70%

    14Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; I possess understanding and might.

  • Job 38:36
    70%

    36Who has put wisdom in the heart, or has imparted understanding to the mind?

  • Prov 1:2
    70%

    2To learn wisdom and moral instruction, to discern wise counsel.

  • Prov 28:11
    70%

    11A rich person is wise in his own opinion, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.

  • Eccl 9:16
    70%

    16So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.

  • Prov 12:8
    70%

    8A person will be praised in accordance with his wisdom, but the one with a bewildered mind will be despised.

  • Eccl 11:8
    70%

    8So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many– all that is about to come is obscure.

  • Prov 8:11
    70%

    11For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be compared to her.

  • Eccl 1:16-17
    2 verses
    70%

    16Futility of Secular Wisdom I thought to myself,“I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.”

    17So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

  • Prov 27:19
    70%

    19As in water the face is reflected as a face, so a person’s heart reflects the person.

  • Eccl 9:1
    70%

    1Everyone Will Die So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead.

  • Job 32:9
    70%

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

  • Prov 21:29
    70%

    29A wicked person has put on a bold face, but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.

  • Job 12:3
    70%

    3I also have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?

  • Eccl 7:25
    69%

    25True Righteousness and Wisdom Are Virtually Nonexistent I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.

  • Prov 9:9
    69%

    9Give instruction to a wise person, and he will become wiser still; teach a righteous person and he will add to his learning.

  • Job 8:8
    69%

    8“For inquire now of the former generation, and pay attention to the findings of their ancestors;

  • Eccl 9:13
    69%

    13Most People Are Not Receptive to Wise Counsel This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:

  • Prov 18:15
    69%

    15The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge.

  • Prov 19:8
    69%

    8The one who acquires understanding loves himself; the one who preserves understanding will prosper.