1 Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom AEx 34:29, 30illumines 1Lit his facehim and causes his BDeut 28:50stern face to 2Or changebeam.

2 I say, “Keep the 1Lit mouthcommand of the king because of the AEx 22:11; 2 Sam 21:7; Ezek 17:18oath 2Lit ofbefore God. 3  “Do not be in a hurry 1Lit to go out from his presenceAEccl 10:4to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.” 4 Since the word of the king is authoritative, AJob 9:12; Dan 4:35who will say to him, “What are you doing?”

5 He who AEccl 12:13keeps a royal command BProv 12:21experiences no 1Lit evil thingtrouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. 6 For AEccl 3:1, 17there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him. 7 If no one AEccl 3:22; 6:12; 7:14; 9:12knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen? 8 APs 49:7No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and BEccl 8:13evil will not deliver 1Lit its possessorsthose who practice it. 9 All this I have seen and applied my 1Lit heartmind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised AEccl 4:1; 5:8; 7:7authority over another man to his hurt.

10 So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out from the holy place, and they are AEccl 1:11; 2:16; 9:5, 15soon forgotten in the city where they did thus. This too is futility. 11 Because the AEx 34:6; Ps 86:15; Rom 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore BEccl 9:3the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil. 12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may AEccl 7:15lengthen his life, still I know that it will be BDeut 4:40; 12:25; Ps 37:11; Prov 1:33; Is 3:10well for those who fear God, who fear 1Lit before HimHim openly. 13 But it will AEccl 8:8; Is 3:11not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a BJob 14:2; Eccl 6:12shadow, because he does not fear God.

14 There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are APs 73:14; Eccl 7:15righteous men to whom it 1Lit strikeshappens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are BJob 21:7; Ps 73:3, 12; Jer 12:1; Mal 3:15evil men to whom it 1Lit strikeshappens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility. 15 So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for AEccl 2:24; 3:12, 13; 5:18; 9:7a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his 1Lit labortoils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

16 When I AEccl 1:13, 14gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should 1Lit see no sleep in his eyesBEccl 2:23never sleep day or night), 17 and I saw every work of God, I concluded that AEccl 3:11man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and BPs 73:16; Eccl 7:23; Rom 11:33though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover.