Ecclesiastes 8:3 nasb — "Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases."

NASB

""Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.""

— Ecclesiastes 8:3, NASB

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Ecclesiastes 8:3 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 8 — Context

1

Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam.

2

I say, "Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God.

3

"Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases."

4

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

5

He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.

6

For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man's trouble is heavy upon him.

Ecclesiastes 8:3 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 8:3 say?
Ecclesiastes 8:3 in the NASB reads: “"Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases."”
Where is Ecclesiastes 8:3 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 8:3 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 8, verse 3.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 8:3.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 8:3 in?
Ecclesiastes 8:3 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 8:3?
Ecclesiastes 8:3 reads (NASB): “"Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases."” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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