1. 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 hardness of his face is changed.
2. I counsel thee, Keep the king's command, and that in regard of the oath of God.
3. Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
4. Because the king's word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
5. Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man's heart discerneth time and judgment:
6. for to every purpose there is a time and judgment; because the misery of man is great upon him:
7. for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
8. There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in that war: neither shall wickedness deliver him that is 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 hath power over another to his hurt.
10. And withal I saw the wicked buried, and they came to the grave; and they that had done right went away from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city: this also is 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.