1
Who is like the wise?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
z A man's wisdom makes his face shine,
and a the hardness of his face is changed.
2 I say: 1 Keep the king's command, because of b God's oath to him. 2 3 Be not hasty to c go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is supreme, and d who may say to him, "What are you doing?" 5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. 6 For there is a time and a way e for everything, although man's trouble 3 lies heavy on him. 7 For he f does not know what is to be, for g who can tell him how it will be? 8 No man has power to h retain the spirit, i or power over the day of death. There is no j discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9 k All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.