1 Who knows the wise? and who knows the interpretation of a saying?
A man’s wisdom will lighten his countenance; but a man of shameless countenance will be hated.
2 Observe the commandment of the king, and that because of the word of the oath of God. 3 Be not hasty; thou shalt go forth out of his presence: stand not in an evil matter; for he will do whatsoever he shall please, 4 even as a king having power: and who will say to him, What doest thou?
5 He that keeps the commandment shall not know an evil thing: and the heart of the wise knows the time of judgement. 6 For to every thing there is time and judgement; for the knowledge of a man is great to him. 7 For there is no one that knows what is going to be: for who shall tell him how it shall be?
8 There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; and there is no power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in the day of battle; neither shall ungodliness save her votary.
9 So I saw all this, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun; all the things wherein man has power over man to afflict him. 10 And then I saw the ungodly carried into the tombs, and that out of the holy place: and they departed, and were praised in the city, because they had done thus: this also is vanity.