Ecclesiastes 5:8

Compared across 29 translations

English
If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight [of corruption]; for a higher official watches over another official, and there are higher ones over them [looking out for one another].
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.
If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the [j]sight; for one [k]official watches over another [l]official, and there are higher [m]officials over them.
Suppose you see poor people being mistreated somewhere. And what is being done to them isn’t right or fair. Don’t be surprised by that. One official is watched by a higher one. Officials who are even higher are watching both of them.
If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.
Arabic
إِنْ شَهِدْتَ فِي الْبِلادِ الْفَقِيرَ مَظْلُوماً، وَالْحَقَّ وَالْعَدْلَ مَزْهُوقَيْنِ فَلا تَعْجَبْ مِنَ الأَمْرِ، فَإِنَّ فَوْقَ الْمَسْؤولِ الْكَبِيرِ مَسْؤُولاً أَعْلَى مِنْهُ رُتْبَةً يُرَاقِبُهُ وَفَوْقَهُمَا مَنْ هُوَ أَعْظَمُ مَقَاماً مِنْهُمَا.
Danish
Alle udnytter jordens afgrøde, ja, selv kongen forlanger sin del af udbyttet.[a]
German
So ist es wohl besser für ein Land, wenn es einen König hat, der für Recht und Ordnung sorgt[c]. Reichtum garantiert noch kein Glück
Spanish
Si en alguna provincia ves que se oprime al pobre, y que a la gente se le niega un juicio justo, no te asombres de tales cosas; porque a un alto oficial lo vigila otro más alto, y por encima de ellos hay otros altos oficiales.
Si en alguna provincia ves que se oprime al pobre, y que a la gente se le niega un juicio justo, no te asombres de tales cosas; porque a un alto oficial lo vigila otro más alto, y por encima de ellos hay otros altos oficiales.
French
Mais malgré tout, ceci demeure dans l’intérêt du pays : qu’au profit de l’agriculture, on se soumette au roi[e]. Sur la richesse
Hiligaynon
Indi ka matingala kon makita mo sa inyo lugar ang mga imol nga ginapigos, nga wala ginahatagan sang hustisya kag ginabaliwala ang ila kinamatarong. Kay ang opisyal nga nagapigos sa ila protektado sang mas mataas pa nga opisyal, kag ining duha protektado sang mas mataas pa gid nga opisyal.
Japanese
貧しい人が金持ちにいじめられ、国中で正義が踏みにじられているのを見ても、別に驚くにあたりません。どの役人にも上役がいて、その上にさらに高官がいるからです。それが国の政治の仕組みなのです。
Korean
가난한 사람이 학대받는 것과 정의가 무시당하는 것을 보아도 너는 놀라지 말아라. 모든 관리는 자기보다 더 높은 사람의 감시를 받고 있다.
nl
En boven al die mensen staat de koning. En als die koning nu maar toegewijd is aan zijn land!
Portuguese
Se você vir o pobre oprimido numa província e vir que lhe são negados o direito e a justiça, não fique surpreso; pois todo oficial está subordinado a alguém que ocupa posição superior, e sobre os dois há outros em posição ainda mais alta.
Se vires algum pobre oprimido pelo rico e a violência a substituir a justiça, em qualquer ponto da terra, não te surpreendas! Porque cada funcionário está sob as ordens de um outro, que lhe é superior, e o chefe de todos eles tem ainda alguém que lhe está acima.
Romanian
„Când vezi că într-o provincie săracul este asuprit, iar dreptatea şi omul drept sunt persecutaţi, să nu te miri de lucrurile acestea, căci un dregător veghează peste un alt dregător, iar peste amândoi veghează alţii şi mai mari!
Russian
Но всё же лучше для страны, чтобы у неё был царь, заботящийся о земле.[b]
Но всё же лучше для страны, чтобы у неё был царь, заботящийся о земле.[b]
Но всё же лучше для страны, чтобы у неё был царь, заботящийся о земле.[b]
Но все же лучше для страны, чтобы у нее был царь, заботящийся о земле5:8 Или: «Каждый получает прибыль от земли, и даже царь извлекает из нее свою пользу»..
Swedish
Men det är till förmån för landet att det finns en kung som låter jorden brukas.[b]
Thai
หากท่านเห็นคนจนในเมืองถูกข่มเหงรังแกและเห็นความยุติธรรมและสิทธิถูกละเลยในที่ใดก็ตาม อย่าฉงนสนเท่ห์เลย เพราะเจ้าหน้าที่ทุกคนอยู่ใต้บังคับบัญชาของผู้ที่อยู่เหนือเขาและเหนือกว่านั้นขึ้นไปก็ยังมีผู้บังคับบัญชาสูงขึ้นไปอีก
zh-Hans
若你在某地看见穷人受欺压,公平正义被扭曲,不要震惊,因为官上有官,在众官之上还有更高的官。
你 若 在 一 省 之 中 见 穷 人 受 欺 压 , 并 夺 去 公 义 公 平 的 事 , 不 要 因 此 诧 异 ; 因 有 一 位 高 过 居 高 位 的 鉴 察 , 在 他 们 以 上 还 有 更 高 的 。
zh-Hant
若你在某地看見窮人受欺壓,公平正義被扭曲,不要震驚,因為官上有官,在眾官之上還有更高的官。