Dual Panel1Who<4310> is like the wise<2450> man<2450> and who<4310> knows<3045> the interpretation<6592> of a matter<1697>? A man's<120> wisdom<2451> illumines<215> him and causes his stern<5797> face<6440> to beam<8132>.
2I say, "Keep<8104> the command<6310> of the king<4428> because<5921><1697> of the oath<7621> before God<430>.
3"Do not be in a hurry<926> to leave<1980><4480> him. Do not join<5975> in an evil<7451> matter<1697>, for he will do<6213> whatever<3605><834> he pleases<2654>."
4Since<834> the word<1697> of the king<4428> is authoritative<7983>, who<4310> will say<559> to him, "What<4100> are you doing<6213>?"
5He who keeps<8104> a royal command<4687> experiences<3045> no<3808> trouble<1697><7451>, for a wise<2450> heart<3820> knows<3045> the proper time<6256> and procedure<4941>.
6For there<3426> is a proper time<6256> and procedure<4941> for every<3605> delight<2656>, though<3588> a man's<120> trouble<7463> is heavy<7227> upon him.
7If<3588> no<369> one<369> knows<3045> what<4100> will happen<1961>, who<4310> can tell<5046> him when<3588><3512> it will happen<1961>?
8No<369> man<120> has<7989> authority<7989> to restrain<3607> the wind<7307> with the wind<7307>, or authority<7983> over the day<3117> of death<4194>; and there<369> is no<369> discharge<4917> in the time<4421> of war<4421>, and evil<7562> will not deliver<4422> those who<1167> practice<1167> it.
9All<3605> this<2088> I have seen<7200> and applied<5414> my mind<3820> to every<3605> deed<4639> that has been done<6213> under<8478> the sun<8121> wherein<834> a man<120> has exercised<7980> authority<7980> over another man<120> to his hurt<7451>.
10So<3651> then, I have seen<7200> the wicked<7563> buried<6912>, those who used to go<935> in and out from the holy<6918> place<4725>, and they are soon forgotten<7911> in the city<5892> where<834> they did<6213> thus<3651>. This<2088> too<1571> is futility<1892>.
11Because<834> the sentence<6599> against an evil<7451> deed<4639> is not executed<6213> quickly<4120>, therefore<5921><3651> the hearts<3820> of the sons<1121> of men<120> among them are given<4390> fully<4390> to do<6213> evil<7451>.
12Although<834> a sinner<2398> does<6213> evil<7451> a hundred<3967> times and may lengthen<748> his life, still<3588><1571> I know<3045> that it will be well<2896> for those who fear<3372> God<430>, who<834> fear<3372> Him openly<4480><6440>.
13But it will not be well<2896> for the evil<7563> man<7563> and he will not lengthen<748> his days<3117> like a shadow<6738>, because<834> he does not fear<3372> God<430>.
14There<3426> is futility<1892> which<834> is done<6213> on the earth<776>, that is, there<3426> are righteous<6662> men<6662> to whom<834> it happens<5060> according to the deeds<4639> of the wicked<7563>. On the other hand, there<3426> are evil<7563> men<7563> to whom<7945> it happens<5060> according to the deeds<4639> of the righteous<6662>. I say<559> that this<2088> too<1571> is futility<1892>.
15So I commended<7623> pleasure<8057>, for there<369> is nothing<369> good<2896> for a man<120> under<8478> the sun<8121> except<3588><518> to eat<398> and to drink<8354> and to be merry<8055>, and this<1931> will stand<3867> by him in his toils<5999> throughout the days<3117> of his life<2425> which<834> God<430> has given<5414> him under<8478> the sun<8121>.
16When<3512> I gave<5414> my heart<3820> to know<3045> wisdom<2451> and to see<7200> the task<6045> which<834> has been done<6213> on the earth<776> (even<1571> though<3588> one<369> should never<369> sleep<7200><8142><5869> day<3117> or night<3915>),
17and I saw<7200> every<3605> work<4639> of God<430>, I concluded that man<120> cannot<3201><3808> discover<4672> the work<4639> which<834> has been done<6213> under<8478> the sun<8121>. Even though<7945><834> man<120> should seek<1245> laboriously<5998>, he will not discover<4672>; and though<518> the wise<2450> man<2450> should say<559>, "I know<3045>," he cannot<3201><3808> discover<4672>.