Ecclesiastes 8:4

NETBible

Surely the king’s authority 1  is absolute; 2  no one can say 3  to him, “What are you doing?”

NIV ©

Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, "What are you doing?"

NASB ©

Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, "What are you doing?"

NLT ©

The king’s command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it.

MSG ©

The king has the last word. Who dares say to him, "What are you doing?"

BBE ©

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

NRSV ©

For the word of the king is powerful, and who can say to him, "What are you doing?"

NKJV ©

Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, "What are you doing?"

KJV
Where the word
<01697>
of a king
<04428>
[is, there is] power
<07983>_:
and who may say
<0559> (8799)
unto him, What doest
<06213> (8799)
thou?
NASB ©
Since
<834>
the word
<1697>
of the king
<4428>
is authoritative
<7983>
, who
<4310>
will say
<559>
to him, "What
<4100>
are you doing
<6213>
?"
LXXM
kaywv
<2531> 
ADV
lalei
<2980> 
V-PAI-3S
basileuv
<935> 
N-NSM
exousiazwn
<1850> 
V-PAPNS
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
tiv
<5100> 
I-NSM
erei {V-FAI-3S} autw
<846> 
D-DSM
ti
<5100> 
I-ASN
poihseiv
<4160> 
V-FAI-2S
NET [draft] ITL
Surely
<0834>
the king’s
<04428>
authority
<07983>
is absolute; no one
<04310>
can say
<0559>
to him, “What
<04100>
are you doing
<06213>
?”
HEBREW
hvet
<06213>
hm
<04100>
wl
<0>
rmay
<0559>
ymw
<04310>
Nwjls
<07983>
Klm
<04428>
rbd
<01697>
rsab (8:4)
<0834>
NETBible

Surely the king’s authority 1  is absolute; 2  no one can say 3  to him, “What are you doing?”

NET Notes

1 tn Heb “word.”

2 tn Heb “supreme.”

3 tn Heb “Who can say…?”