ECC 5:8 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal Speaker(s)=Narrator (All still tentative.)

5:7 Note: KJB: Eccl.5.8

5:7 OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

5:7 OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

5:7 OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX (ECC 5:7) Ἐὰν συκοφαντίαν πένητος καὶ ἁρπαγὴν κρίματος καὶ δικαιοσύνης ἴδῃς ἐν χώρᾳ, μὴ θαυμάσῃς ἐπὶ τῷ πράγματι· ὅτι ὑψηλὸς ἐπάνω ὑψηλοῦ φυλάξαι, καὶ ὑψηλοὶ ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς.
(Ean sukofantian penaʸtos kai harpagaʸn krimatos kai dikaiosunaʸs idaʸs en ⱪōra, maʸ thaumasaʸs epi tōi pragmati; hoti hupsaʸlos epanō hupsaʸlou fulaxai, kai hupsaʸloi epʼ autois.)

BrTr (ECC 5:7) If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgment and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for there is a high one to watch over him that is high, and high ones over them.

ULT If, the extortion of, the poor and, the robbery of justice and equity you see in the province, do not be amazed concerning the matter, for a high one over a high one is watching, and high ones, are over them.

UST You may witness powerful people where you live extorting money from impoverished people or corrupting legal systems that are intended to promote just and fair outcomes to their own benefit. You should not be overly surprised about this. Lamentably, this is the way things are. The people who can hold these powerful people accountable merely watch and do nothing. And even these more powerful people are under the authority of someone even higher, who likewise sits around and does nothing to address the injustices.

BSB & MSB If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them.

OEB No OEB ECC 5:8 book available

WEBBE & WMBB If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter, for one official is eyed by a higher one, and there are officials over them.

NET If you see the extortion of the poor,
⇔ or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government,
⇔ do not be astonished by the matter.
⇔ For the high official is watched by a higher official,
⇔ and there are higher ones over them!

LSV If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness you see in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones [are] over them.

FBV If you see poor people somewhere[fn] being oppressed, or truth and justice violated, don't be shocked at it, for every official is responsible to others higher up, and there are officials over them as well.[fn]

5:8 “Somewhere”: literally, “in the province”—a general term.

5:8 The Hebrew meaning is unclear. It probably is saying that corruption and injustice are endemic.

T4T Do not be surprised if you see poor people being ◄oppressed/treated cruelly► by powerful/influential people, or if you see judges making unjust decisions throughout the land. That happens because the people who do that are supervised and cheated by more important officials [DOU],

LEB • Do not be surprised if you see the poor being oppressed with violence
• or do not see justice and righteousness in the province.
• For one official is watched by a higher official,
• and there are even higher officials over them!

BBE If you see the poor under a cruel yoke, and law and right being violently overturned in a country, be not surprised, because one authority is keeping watch on another and there are higher than they.

Moff When you see the poor being oppressed, or right and justice tampered with in the State, be not surprised; it is one official preying on another. But over both there is a supreme authority;

JPS (ECC 5:7) (5-6) For through the multitude of dreams and vanities there are also many words; but fear thou God.

ASV If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.

DRA (ECC 5:7) If thou shalt see the oppressions of the poor, and violent judgments, and justice perverted in the province, wonder not at this matter: for he that is high hath another higher, and there are others still higher than these:

YLT If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness thou seest in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones [are] over them.

Drby If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter; for a higher than the high is watching, and there are higher than they.

RV If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there be higher than they.
(If thou/you seest/see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of judgement and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there be higher than they.)

SLT If thou shalt see the oppression of the poor one, and the spoiling of judgment and justice in a province, thou shalt not wonder at the inclination: for the high one above the high one is watching, and the high ones over them.

Wbstr If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perversion of judgment and justice in a province, wonder not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there are higher than they.

KJB-1769 ¶ If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.[fn]
(¶ If thou/you seest/see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgement and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.)

5.8 at the…: Heb. at the will, or, purpose

KJB-1611 ¶ [fn]If thou seest the oppression of the poore, and violent peruerting of iudgement, and iustice in a prouince, maruell not at the matter: for he that is higher then the highest, regardeth, and there be higher then they.
(¶ If thou/you seest/see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgement, and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher then the highest, regardeth, and there be higher then they.)

5:8 Heb. at the will or purpose.

Bshps If thou seest the poore to be oppressed, and wrongfully dealt withall, so that equitie and right of the lawe is wrested in the lande, maruayle not thou at such a thyng: for he that is higher then the hyghest regardeth, and there be hygher then they.
(If thou/you seest/see the poor to be oppressed, and wrongfully dealt also/fully, so that equity and right of the law is wrested in the land, marvel not thou/you at such a thing: for he that is higher then the highest regardeth, and there be higher then they.)

Gnva And the abundance of the earth is ouer all: the King also consisteth by the fielde that is tilled.
(And the abundance of the earth is over all: the King also consisteth by the field that is tilled.)

Cvdl Yf thou seyst the poore to be oppressed and wrongeously dealt withall, so yt equite & the right of the lawe is wraisted in the londe: maruell not thou at soch iudgmet, for one greate ma kepeth touch with another, and the mightie helpe the selues together.
(If thou/you seest/see the poor to be oppressed and wrongfully dealt also/fully, so it equity and the right of the law is wrested in the land: marvel not thou/you at such judgement, for one great man keepeth/keeps touch with another, and the mighty help the selves together.)

Wycl (ECC 5:7) If thou seest false chalengis of nedi men, and violent domes, and that riytfulnesse is distried in the prouynce, wondre thou not on this doyng; for another is hiyere than an hiy man, and also othere men ben more hiye aboue these men;
(If thou/you seest/see false challenges of needy men, and violent judgements, and that rightfulness/righteousness is destroyed in the province, wonder thou/you not on this doing; for another is higher than an high man, and also other men been more high above these men;)

Luth (ECC 5:7) Siehest du dem Armen Unrecht tun und Recht und Gerechtigkeit im Lande wegreißen, wundere dich des Vornehmens nicht; denn es ist noch ein hoher Hüter über den Hohen, und sind noch Höhere über die beiden.
(See you(sg) to_him poor_(one) injustice do/put and law/right and justice in_the land tear_away, wonder you/yourself the noble/distinguished_(one) not; because/than it is still a higher guardian above the high, and are still higher_(thing) above the both.)

ClVg (ECC 5:7) [Si videris calumnias egenorum, et violenta judicia, et subverti justitiam in provincia, non mireris super hoc negotio: quia excelso excelsior est alius, et super hos quoque eminentiores sunt alii;[fn]
([When/But_if you_see slander of_they_needy, and violent judgements, and to_overthrow justice in/into/on province, not/no you_are_surprised over this business: because on_high higher it_is another, and over these too more_prominent are others;)

5.7 Si videris calumnias. Ac si dicat: Ne dicas coram angelo, non est Providentia: quod est contra eos qui omnia casibus agi putant, et Dei providentiam negant. Si tamen videris calumnias egenorum, etc.

5.7 When/But_if you_see slander. And when/but_if let_him_say: Don’t say before messenger/angel, not/no it_is Providence: that it_is on_the_contrary them who/which everything cases to_act they_think, and of_God foresight they_deny. Si nevertheless you_see slander of_they_needy, etc.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

עֹ֣שֶׁק

oppression_of

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of extortion, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the extorting of]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

מִשְׁפָּ֤ט וָ⁠צֶ֨דֶק֙

justice and,righteousness

The terms justice and equity mean similar things. Solomon is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [fair treatment]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וָ⁠צֶ֨דֶק֙

and,righteousness

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of equity, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [and what is fair]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

גָבֹ֜הַּ מֵ⁠עַ֤ל גָּבֹ֨הַ֙

official from=under higher

Here Solomon is speaking as if authority were height, calling officials a high one. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a superior official over a superior official]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

אִם עֹ֣שֶׁק רָ֠שׁ וְ⁠גֵ֨זֶל מִשְׁפָּ֤ט וָ⁠צֶ֨דֶק֙ תִּרְאֶ֣ה בַ⁠מְּדִינָ֔ה אַל תִּתְמַ֖הּ עַל הַ⁠חֵ֑פֶץ כִּ֣י גָבֹ֜הַּ מֵ⁠עַ֤ל גָּבֹ֨הַ֙ שֹׁמֵ֔ר וּ⁠גְבֹהִ֖ים עֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם

if oppression_of poor and,robbery_of justice and,righteousness see in,province not surprised on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the,matter that/for/because/then/when official from=under higher he/it_was_watching and,high_[ones] over,them

The word translated as for indicates that what follows is a reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: [If the extortion of the poor and the robbery of justice and equity you see in the province, do not be amazed concerning the matter, because a high one over a high one is watching, and high ones are over them]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

אִם עֹ֣שֶׁק רָ֠שׁ וְ⁠גֵ֨זֶל מִשְׁפָּ֤ט וָ⁠צֶ֨דֶק֙ תִּרְאֶ֣ה בַ⁠מְּדִינָ֔ה

if oppression_of poor and,robbery_of justice and,righteousness see in,province

Solomon is speaking as if this were a hypothetical possibility, but he means that it is actually true. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, or if your readers might think that what Solomon is saying is uncertain, then you could translate this as a confident statement. Alternate translation: [When you see the extortion of the poor and the robbery of justice and equity in the province]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

עֹ֣שֶׁק רָ֠שׁ וְ⁠גֵ֨זֶל מִשְׁפָּ֤ט וָ⁠צֶ֨דֶק֙ תִּרְאֶ֣ה בַ⁠מְּדִינָ֔ה

oppression_of poor and,robbery_of justice and,righteousness see in,province

If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of the clauses so that the verb and its location come before the objects. Alternate translation: [you see in the province the extortion of the poor and the robbery of justice and equity]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וְ⁠גֵ֨זֶל

and,robbery_of

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of robbery, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [and the robbing of]

Parallel ECC 5:8