1. Who as the wise? 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 to keep the king's commandment, and in regard of the oath of Elohim.

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 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 great upon him.

7. For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

8. no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither power in the day of death: and no discharge in 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: 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 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 be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear Elohim, which fear before him:

13. But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong days, as a shadow; because he feareth not before Elohim.

14. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also 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 Elohim 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 neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

17. Then I beheld all the work of Elohim, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek out, yet he shall not find; yea further; though a wise think to know, yet shall he not be able to find.