Ecclesiastes 8:5

Whoever obeys his ¹  command will not experience harm, and a wise person ²  knows the proper time ³  and procedure.

Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.

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

Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right.

Carrying out orders won't hurt you a bit; the wise person obeys promptly and accurately.

Whoever keeps the law will come to no evil: and a wise man’s heart has knowledge of time and of decision.

Whoever obeys a command will meet no harm, and the wise mind will know the time and way.

He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment,

Whoever obeys his ¹  command will not experience harm, and a wise person ²  knows the proper time ³  and procedure.

¹ tn The word “his” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness and clarity.

² tn Heb “the heart of a wise man.”

³ tn The term עֵת (’et, “time”) connotes “a proper, suitable time for an event; the right moment” (HALOT 900 s.v. עֵת 6; BDB 773 s.v. עֵת 2.b); e.g., “it was the time for rain” (Ezra 10:13); “a time of judgment for the nations” (Ezek 30:3); “there is an appropriate time for every occasion” (Eccl 3:1); “the time when mountain goats are born” (Job 39:1); “the rain in its season” (Deut 11:14; Jer 5:24); “the time for the harvest” (Hos 2:11; Ps 1:3); “food in its season” (Ps 104:27).