1. Who is like the wise person? Who knows the meaning of a matter? A person’s wisdom makes his face shine, transforming the harshness of his face.
2. I say: “Obey the king’s command, and especially in regard to the oath of God.
3. Do not be hasty to rush out of his presence. Do not stand up for an evil cause, because he will do whatever he desires.
4. Since the word of a king has authority, who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
5. Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm, and a wise person’s heart discerns the proper time and procedure.
6. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person’s trouble is heavy upon him.
7. Since no one knows what will be, who can tell when it will happen?
8. No one has authority over the wind to restrain it, nor authority over the day of death. As no one is discharged during a battle, so wickedness cannot rescue its master.
9. I have seen all this while applying my mind to everything done under the sun: sometimes one person dominates another person to his own harm.
10. Then I saw the wicked buried—they used to come and go from the holy place, but will soon be forgotten in the very city where they did this. This too is meaningless.
11. When the sentence against a crime is not swiftly carried out, the human heart is encouraged to do evil.
12. Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and prolong his days, yet I know that it will be well for those who fear God, for those who revere Him.
13. But it will not go well with the wicked, and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.