Ecclesiastes 8

The chapter returns to the theme of submission to authority and the difficulty of understanding God's timing. It urges obedience to the king, for the king's word is final. The Preacher laments that often the righteous are treated as the wicked, and the wicked are honored as the righteous—a painful vanity. He concludes that no man can find out the work that God does from beginning to end, no matter how hard he tries. Therefore, the best course is to eat, drink, and be cheerful, finding joy in this fleeting life.