1
Who is as the wise[H2450] man? and who knoweth[H3045] the interpretation[H6592] of a thing?[H1697] a man's wisdom[H2451] maketh his face[H6440] to shine[H215], and the boldness[H5797] of his face[H6440] shall be changed[H8132].
2
I counsel thee to keep[H8104] the king's commandment[H6310], and that in regard[H1700] of the oath[H7621] of God[H430].
3
Be not hasty[H926] to go out[H3212] of his sight[H6440]: stand[H5975] not in an evil[H7451]thing[H1697]; for he doeth[H6213] whatsoever pleaseth[H2654] him.
4
Where the word[H1697] of a king[H4428] is, there is power[H7983]: and who may say[H559] unto him, What doest[H6213] thou?
5
Whoso keepeth[H8104] the commandment[H4687] shall feel[H3045] no evil[H7451]thing[H1697]: and a wise man's heart[H3820]discerneth[H3045] both time[H6256] and judgment[H4941].
6
Because to every purpose[H2656] there is[H3426]time[H6256] and judgment[H4941], therefore the misery[H7451] of man[H120]is[H3426]great[H7227] upon him.
7
For he knoweth[H3045] not that which shall be: for who can tell[H5046] him when it shall be?
8
There is no man[H120] that hath power[H7989] over the spirit[H7307] to retain[H3607] the spirit[H7307]; neither hath he power[H7983] in the day[H3117] of death[H4194]: and there is no discharge[H4917] in that war[H4421]; neither shall wickedness[H7562]deliver[H4422] those that are given[H1167] to it.
9
All this have I seen[H7200], and applied[H5414] my heart[H3820] unto every work[H4639] that is done[H6213] under the sun[H8121]: there is a time[H6256] wherein one man[H120]ruleth[H7980] over another to his own hurt[H7451].
10
And so[H3651] I saw[H7200] the wicked[H7563]buried[H6912], who had come[H935] and gone[H1980] from the place[H4725] of the holy[H6918], and they were forgotten[H7911] in the city[H5892] where they had so[H3651]done[H6213]: this is also vanity[H1892].
11
Because sentence[H6599] against an evil[H7451]work[H4639] is not executed[H6213]speedily[H4120], therefore the heart[H3820] of the sons[H1121] of men[H120] is fully set[H4390] in them to do[H6213]evil[H7451].
12
Though a sinner[H2398]do[H6213]evil[H7451] an hundred times[H3967], and his days be prolonged[H748], yet surely I know[H3045] that it shall be well[H2896] with them that fear[H3373]God[H430], which fear[H3372]before[H6440] him:
13
But it shall not be well[H2896] with the wicked[H7563], neither shall he prolong[H748] his days[H3117], which are as a shadow[H6738]; because he feareth[H3373] not before[H6440]God[H430].
14
There is[H3426] a vanity[H1892] which is[H3426]done[H6213] upon the earth[H776]; that there be[H3426]just[H6662] men, unto whom it happeneth[H5060] according to the work[H4639] of the wicked[H7563]; again, there be[H3426]wicked[H7563] men, to whom it happeneth[H5060] according to the work[H4639] of the righteous[H6662]: I said[H559] that this also[H1571]is[H3426]vanity[H1892].
15
Then I commended[H7623]mirth[H8057], because a man[H120] hath no better thing[H2896] under the sun[H8121], than to eat[H398], and to drink[H8354], and to be merry[H8055]: for that shall abide[H3867] with him of his labour[H5999] the days[H3117] of his life[H2416], which God[H430]giveth[H5414] him under the sun[H8121].
16
When I applied[H5414] mine heart[H3820] to know[H3045]wisdom[H2451], and to see[H7200] the business[H6045] that is done[H6213] upon the earth:(for also there is that neither day[H3117] nor night[H3915]seeth[H7200]sleep[H8142] with his eyes[H5869]:)
17
Then I beheld[H7200] all the work[H4639] of God[H430], that a man[H120]cannot[H3201]find[H4672]out[H4672] the work[H4639] that is done[H6213] under the sun[H8121]: because[H834]though[H7945] a man[H120]labour[H5998] to seek it out[H1245], yet he shall not find[H4672] it; yea further; though[H7945] a wise[H2450]man[H120]think[H559] to know[H3045] it, yet shall he not be able[H3201] to find[H4672] it.