Ecclesiastes 8:5 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

The commandment; either,

1. Of the king, of which he hath hitherto spoken. Or,

2. Of God; for the word, or commandments, or law are oft used emphatically for the word, law, or command of God, as hath been formerly and frequently observed, and the commandment is put for the commandments, as is very usual. And so Solomon passeth from his former to a new subject. Shall feel no evil thing; shall be delivered from those mischiefs which befall the disobedient. Both time and judgment; both when, and how far, and in what manner he may or must keep the commands of the king or God. For the word here rendered judgment doth signify right, as Deuteronomy 21:17, as also a cause or controversy, as Numbers 27:5, and the manner or rule of actions, as Judges 13:12. The sense is, A wise man knows both what he ought to do, and what are the fittest seasons for doing it, which he seeketh and embraceth.

Ecclesiastes 8:5

5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.