1 Who [is] as the wise? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of man causeth his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
2 I pray thee, the commandment of a king keep, even for the sake of the oath of God. 3 Be not troubled at his presence, thou mayest go, stand not in an evil thing, for all that he pleaseth he doth. 4 Where the word of a king [is] power [is], and who saith to him, `What dost thou?' 5 Whoso is keeping a command knoweth no evil thing, and time and judgment the heart of the wise knoweth. 6 For to every delight there is a time and a judgment, for the misfortune of man is great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be, for when it shall be who declareth to him? 8 There is no man ruling over the spirit to restrain the spirit, and there is no authority over the day of death, and there is no discharge in battle, and wickedness delivereth not its possessors. 9 All this I have seen so as to give my heart to every work that hath been done under the sun; a time that man hath ruled over man to his own evil.