Ecclesiastes 8:2–4

²¹My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

^21†My sonne, feare thou the LORD, and the king: and medle not with them that are giuen to change.

¹PUT them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

¹¶ Put them in minde to bee subiect to Principalities & Powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to euery good worke,

⁴³Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?

⁴³Why then hast thou not kept the Oath of the LORD, and the commandement that I haue charged thee with?

¹³Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

¹⁴Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

¹⁵For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

¹⁶As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

¹⁷Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

¹³Submit your selues to euery ordinance of man for the Lordes sake, whether it be to the King, as supreme,

¹⁴Or vnto gouernours, as vnto them that are sent by him, for the punishment of euil doers, and for the praise of them that doe well.

¹⁵For so is the will of God, that with well doing yee may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

¹⁶As free, and not ^†vsing your libertie for a cloake of maliciousnesse, but as the seruants of God.

^17‖Honour all men. Loue the brotherhood. Feare God. Honour the King.

¹LET every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

²Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

³For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

⁴For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

⁵Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

¹¶ Let euery soule bee subiect vnto the higher powers: For there is no power but of God. The powers that be, are ^‖ordeined of God.

²Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receiue to themselues damnation.

³For rulers are not a terrour to good works, but to the euill. Wilt thou then not bee afraide of the power? doe that which is good, and thou shalt haue praise of the same.

⁴For hee is the minister of God to thee for good: but if thou do that which is euill, be afraid: for he beareth not the sword in vaine: for he is the minister of God, a reuenger to execute wrath vpon him that doeth euill.

⁵Wherfore ye must needs be subiect, not onely for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

²⁴And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

²⁴And all the princes and the mightie men, and all the sonnes likewise of king Dauid, ^†submitted themselues vnto Solomon the King.

⁷But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

⁷But the king spared Mephibosheth the sonne of Ionathan the sonne of Saul, because of the ^* LORDs othe that was between them, betweene Dauid, and Ionathan the sonne of Saul.

¹¹Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.

¹¹ Then shall an othe of the LORD be betweene them both, that hee hath not put his hand vnto his neighbours goods: and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.

¹³And hath taken of the king’s seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

¹⁴That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

¹⁵But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

¹⁶As I live, saith the Lord God, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

¹⁷Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:

¹⁸Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

¹⁹Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.

²⁰And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.

^13†And hath taken of the kings seed, and made a couenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land,

^14†That the kingdome might bee base, that it might not lift it selfe vp, but that by keeping of his Couenant it might stand.

¹⁵But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadours into Egypt, that they might giue him horses and much people: shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall hee breake the Couenant, and bee deliuered?

¹⁶ As I liue, saith the LORD God, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose couenant he brake, euen with him, in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

¹⁷Neither shall Pharaoh with his mightie armie and great companie make for him in the warre by casting vp mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons.

¹⁸Seeing hee despised the oath by breaking the couenant (when loe, he had giuen his hand) and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

¹⁹Therefore thus saith the LORD God, As I liue, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my Couenant that he hath broken, euen it will I recompense vpon his owne head.

^20*And I will spread my net vpon him, & he shalbe taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespasse, that he hath trespassed against me.

⁴If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

⁴If the spirit of the ruler rise vp against thee, leaue not thy place; for yeelding pacifieth great offences.

⁸And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

⁹Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

⁸And Peter answered vnto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she saide, Yea, for so much.

⁹Then Peter saide vnto her, How is it that ye haue agreed together, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feete of them which haue buried thy husband, are at the doore, and shall cary thee out.

³⁵And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

^35*And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and hee doth according to his will in the armie of heauen, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say vnto him, What doest thou?

¹⁹And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

¹⁹And for the maiestie that hee gaue him, all people, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would, he slew, & whom he would, he kept aliue, and whom he would hee set vp, and whom he would hee put downe.

²⁹He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

^29† He that is slow to wrath, is of great vnderstanding: but he that is hasty of spirit, exalteth folly.

⁵⁰¶ And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

⁵¹And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

⁵²And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

⁵⁰¶ And Adoniiah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the hornes of the Altar.

⁵¹And it was tolde Solomon, saying, Behold, Adoniiah feareth King Solomon: for loe, he hath caught hold on the hornes of the Altar, saying, Let King Solomon sweare vnto mee to day, that hee will not slay his seruant with the sword.

⁵²And Solomon sayd, If hee will shewe himselfe a worthy man, there shall not an haire of him fall to the earth: but if wickednesse shall be found in him, he shall die.

²¹And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

²²And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

²³Then king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

²⁴Now therefore, as the Lord liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

²¹And she saide, Let Abishag the Shunammite be giuen to Adoniiah thy brother to wife.

²²And king Solomon answered, and said vnto his mother, And why doest thou aske Abishag the Shunammite for Adoniiah? Aske for him the kingdome also (for he is mine elder brother) euen for him, and for Abiathar the Priest, & for Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah.

²³Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God doe so to me, and more also, if Adoniiah haue not spoken this word against his owne life.

²⁴Now therefore as the LORD liueth, which hath established mee, and set mee on the throne of Dauid my father, and who hath made me an house as he ^*promised, Adoniiah shall be put to death this day.

⁴Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

^4†Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy necke is an yron sinew, and thy brow brasse:

¹⁶As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee.

¹⁷But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

¹⁶ As for the word that thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken vnto thee.

^17‖*†But we will certainly doe whatsoeuer thing goeth forth out of our owne mouth, to burne incense vnto the queene of heauen, and to powre out drinke offrings vnto her, as we haue done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes in the cities of Iudah, and in the streetes of Ierusalem: for then had we plentie of vitailes, and were well, and saw no euill.

¹⁴The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

¹⁵In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

¹⁴The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacifie it.

^15*In the light of the kings countenance is life, and his fauour is as a cloude of the latter raine.

³¹A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

^31‖A gray-hound; an hee-goate also; and a king, against whom there is no rising vp.

¹²Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

^12*Behold, he taketh away, ^†who can hinder him? who will say vnto him, What doest thou?

¹LET every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

²Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

³For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

⁴For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

¹¶ Let euery soule bee subiect vnto the higher powers: For there is no power but of God. The powers that be, are ^‖ordeined of God.

²Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receiue to themselues damnation.

³For rulers are not a terrour to good works, but to the euill. Wilt thou then not bee afraide of the power? doe that which is good, and thou shalt haue praise of the same.

⁴For hee is the minister of God to thee for good: but if thou do that which is euill, be afraid: for he beareth not the sword in vaine: for he is the minister of God, a reuenger to execute wrath vpon him that doeth euill.

³⁵And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

^35*And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and hee doth according to his will in the armie of heauen, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say vnto him, What doest thou?

²The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

^2*The feare of a king, is as the roaring of a Lion: who so prouoketh him to anger, sinneth against his owne soule.

¹⁸Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

¹⁹How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

¹⁸ Is it fit to say to a King, Thou art wicked? and to Princes, Ye are vngodly?

^19*How much lesse to him that accepteth not the persons of Princes, nor regardeth the rich more then the poore? for they all are the woorke of his hands.

¹²The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

^12*The kings wrath is as the roaring of a lyon: but his fauour is as dewe vpon the grasse.

²⁰Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

²⁰Nay but O man, who art thou that ^‖repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, ^*Why hast thou made me thus?

²⁵And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

²⁵And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, and he fell vpon him that he died.

²⁹And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.

³⁰And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the Lord, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.

³¹And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.

³²And the Lord shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

³³Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the Lord.

³⁴So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

²⁹And it was told king Solomon that Ioab was fled vnto the Tabernacle of the LORD, and behold, hee is by the Altar: Then Solomon sent Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, saying, Goe fall vpon him.

³⁰And Benaiah came to the Tabernacle of the LORD, and said vnto him, Thus saith the king, Come foorth. And he said, Nay, but I will die heere. And Benaiah brought the king word againe, saying, Thus said Ioab, and thus he answered me.

³¹And the king saide vnto him, Doe as he hath said, and fall vpon him, and bury him, that thou mayest take away the innocent blood which Ioab shed, from mee, and from the house of my father.

³²And the LORD shall returne his blood vpon his owne head, who fell vpon two men, more righteous and better then hee, and slew them with the sword, my father Dauid not knowing thereof, to wit, ^*Abner the sonne of Ner, captaine of the hoste of Israel, and ^*Amasa the sonne of Iether, captaine of the hoste of Iudah.

³³Their blood shall therefore returne vpon the head of Ioab, and vpon the head of his seed for euer: but vpon Dauid, and vpon his seede, and vpon his house, and vpon his throne, shall there bee peace for euer from the LORD.

³⁴So Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada went vp, and fell vpon him, and slewe him, and hee was buried in his owne house in the wildernesse.

⁴⁶So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

⁴⁶So the king commaunded Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, which went out, and fell vpon him, that he died, and the ^*kingdome was established in the hand of Solomon.

¹⁵Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

¹⁵Now if ye be ready that at what time yee heare the sound of the cornet, flute, harpe, sackbut, psalterie, and dulcimer, and all kindes of musicke, ye fall downe, and worship the image which I haue made, well: but if yee worship not, ye shall be cast the same houre into the midst of a fierie furnace, and who is that God that shall deliuer you out of my handes?

¹²Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

¹³Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

¹²Behold, in this thou art not iust: I will answere thee, That God is greater then man.

¹³Why doest thou striue against him? for ^†he giueth not account of any of his matters.

⁴And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

⁵But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

^4*And I say vnto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that, haue no more that they can doe.

⁵But I will forewarne you whom you shall feare: Feare him, which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell, yea, I say vnto you, Feare him.

³¹A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

^31‖A gray-hound; an hee-goate also; and a king, against whom there is no rising vp.