Ecclesiastes 5:8
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.
Study Note
Study Note
The observation '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' offers a remarkably pragmatic political theology: bureaucratic injustice is explained by the hierarchical structure of government itself (each level exploiting those below), but above the entire pyramid is God. The phrase 'marvel not' (al-titmah) counsels against naïve shock at institutional corruption — Qohelet has observed enough human systems to know that structural injustice is predictable. The consolation is theological rather than political: divine surveillance of the entire hierarchy provides the only ultimate accountability that human systems cannot. The verse has been important in Christian political theology's analysis of corruption and in discussions of whether government can be reformed.
Other Translations
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.
If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness thou seest in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones <FI>are<Fi> over them.
If you see the poor under a cruel yoke, and law and right being violently overturned in a country, be not surprised, because one authority is keeping watch on another and there are higher than they.
Cross References
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation …
In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering …
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high …
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have …
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel …
Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore …
Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on …
Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and …
O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant …