1
Who is like a wise man?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
a A man's wisdom makes his face shine,
And b the 1 sternness of his face is changed.
2
I say, "Keep the king's commandment c for the sake of your oath to God.
3
d "Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him."
4
Where the word of a king is, there is power;
And e who may say to him, "What are you doing?"
5
He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful;
And a wise man's heart 2 discerns both time and judgment,
6
Because f for every matter there is a time and judgment,
Though the misery of man 3 increases greatly.
7
g For he does not know what will happen;
So who can tell him when it will occur?
8
h No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit,
And no one has power in the day of death.
There is i no release from that war,
And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.
9
All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.