1 WHO IS like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his countenance is changed.
2 I counsel you to keep the king's command, and that in regard to the oath of God [by which you swore to him loyalty]. 3 Be not panic-stricken and hasty to get out of his presence. Persist not in an evil thing, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of a king is authority and power, and who can say to him, What are you doing? 5 Whoever observes the [king's] command will experience no harm, and a wise man's mind will know both when and what to do. 6 For every purpose and matter has its [right] time and judgment, although the misery and wickedness of man lies heavily upon him [who rebels against the king]. 7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how and when it will be? 8 There is no man who has power over the spirit to retain the breath of life, neither has he power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in battle [against death], neither will wickedness deliver those who are its possessors and given to it. 9 All this have I seen while applying my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his own hurt or to the other man's.