Ecclesiastes 8:1 — Compare Translations
27 translations compared side by side
English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young
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.
English ASV
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A mans wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
English Amplified
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.
English Amplified Classic Bible 1987
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.
English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025
Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.
English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible
Who is like the wise person, and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A person’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.
English Darby 1890 : Public Domain
Who is as the wise? and who knoweth the explanation of things? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face is changed.
English EASY 2024
This is what I know about people who are truly wise. They know how to explain things. Wisdom helps a person to be happy. It causes them to smile even when they have trouble.
English ERV 2006 - Only For Website
No one can understand and explain things the way wise people can. Their wisdom makes them happy. It changes a sad face into a happy one.
English ESV 2016 == The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles
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.
English GNT (Good News Translation)
Only the wise know what things really mean. Wisdom makes them smile and makes their frowns disappear.
English God's Word - GW 1995
Who is really wise? Who knows how to explain things? Wisdom makes one's face shine, and it changes one's grim look.
English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website
Who is like the wise person, and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.
English KJV 1611
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.
English LSB
Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom illumines his face and causes his stern face to beam.
English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)
Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a matter? A person’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the harshness of his face is softened.
English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)
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.
English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website
Who is like the wise man, and who knows the explanation of things? A man's wisdom illumines his face, but an impudent look is resented.
English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)
Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.
English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website
Who is like a wise man? Who knows how to explain things? Wisdom makes a man's face bright. It softens the look on his face.
English NIV
Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance.
English NKJ 1982
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.
English NLT
How wonderful to be wise, to be able to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person's face, softening its hardness.
English NRSV 1989 - Only for website
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? Wisdom makes one's face shine, and the hardness of one's countenance is changed.
English RSV (Revised Standard Version)
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.
English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)
How wonderful to be wise, to understand things, to be able to analyze them and interpret them. Wisdom lights up a man's face, softening its hardness.
English Tyndale 1537
where as no man hath wisdom and understanding, to give answer there unto. Wisdom maketh a man's face to shine, but malice putteth it out of favour.