8 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. 2 I
counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the
oath of God. 3 Be
not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth
whatsoever pleaseth him. 4 Where
the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What
doest thou? 5 Whoso
keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart
discerneth both time and judgment. 6 Because
to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man
is great upon him. 7 For
he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall
be? 8 There
is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither
hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war;
neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. 9 All
this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under
the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own
hurt.
10
And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of
the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this
is also vanity. 11 Because
sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart
of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though
a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely
I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before
him: 13 But
it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days,
which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. 14 There
is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom
it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked
men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said
that this also is vanity. 15 Then
I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than
to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of
his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. 16 When
I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done
upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep
with his eyes:) 17 Then
I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is
done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall
not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall
he not be able to find it.