American Standard Version (ASV) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Amplified Bible (AMP) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 WHO IS like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his countenance is changed.
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Common English Bible (CEB) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is wise? And who knows the meaning of anything? A person’s wisdom brightens the expression; it changes the hardness of someone’s face.
English Standard Version (ESV) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
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Good News Translation (GNT) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Only the wise know what things really mean. Wisdom makes them smile and makes their frowns disappear.
God’s Word To The Nations (God’s word) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is really wise? Who knows how to explain things? Wisdom makes one’s face shine, and it changes one’s grim look.
King James Version (KJV) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
New Century Version (NCV) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Obey the King No one is like the wise person who can understand what things mean. Wisdom brings happiness; it makes sad faces happy.
New International Version (NIV) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.
New King James Version (NKJV) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed.
New Living Translation (NLT) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 How wonderful to be wise, to be able to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its hardness.
Revised Standard Version (RSV) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Obey the King and Enjoy Yourself Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his countenance is changed.
The Message Bible (MSG) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 There’s nothing better than being wise, Knowing how to interpret the meaning of life. Wisdom puts light in the eyes, And gives gentleness to words and manners.
Updated King James Version (UKJV) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is as the wise man? and who knows the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) – Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is as the wise? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of man causeth his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Reflection
This verse is a part of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, which is traditionally attributed to King Solomon. The book deals with the themes of the meaninglessness of life and the search for wisdom and truth. In this particular verse, the author reflects on the importance of wisdom and its transformative power.
The first two lines are rhetorical questions that emphasize the rarity of true wisdom and the difficulty of understanding the complexities of life. The third line suggests that wisdom can have a physical impact on a person’s appearance, making their face brighter and softer.
