Dual Panel1Who <04310> is a wise person <02450>? Who <04310> knows <03045> the solution <06592> to a problem <01697>? A person’s <0120> wisdom <02451> brightens <0215> his appearance <06440>, and softens <08132> his harsh <05797> countenance <06440>.
2Obey <08104> the king’s <04428> command <06310>, because <01700> you took an oath <07621> before God <0430> to be loyal to him.
3Do not <0408> rush out <01980> of the king’s presence <06440> in haste <0926>– do not <0408> delay <05975> when the matter <01697> is unpleasant <07451>, for <03588> he can do <06213> whatever <0834> <03605> he pleases <02654>.
4Surely <0834> the king’s <04428> authority <07983> is absolute; no one <04310> can say <0559> to him, “What <04100> are you doing <06213>?”
5Whoever obeys <08104> his command <04687> will not <03808> experience <03045> harm <07451>, and a wise person <02450> knows <03045> the proper <03820> time <06256> and procedure <04941>.
6For <03588> there is a proper time <06256> and procedure <04941> for <03588> every <03605> matter <02656>, for the oppression <07451> of the king <0120> is severe <07227> upon <05921> his victim.
7Surely <03588> no one <0369> knows <03045> the future, and no one can tell <05046> another person what <0834> will happen <01961>.
8Just as no <0369> one <0120> has power <07989> over the wind <07307> to restrain <03607> it <07307>, so no one <0369> has power <07983> over the day <03117> of his death <04194>. Just as no one <0369> can be discharged <04917> during the battle <04421>, so wickedness <07562> cannot <03808> rescue <04422> the wicked <01167>.
9While applying <05414> my mind <03820> to everything <04639> <03605> that <0834> happens in this world <08121> <08478> <06213>, I have seen <07200> all <03605> this <02088>: Sometimes <06256> one person <0120> dominates <07980> other people <0120> to their harm <07451>.
10Not only that, but I have seen <07200> the wicked <07563> approaching <06912> and entering <0935> the temple <04725>, and as they left <01980> the holy temple <06918>, they boasted <07911> in the city <05892> that <0834> they had done <06213> so <03651>. This <02088> also <01571> is an enigma <01892>.
11When a sentence <06599> is not <0369> executed <06213> at once <04120> against <05921> a crime <07451>, the human <0120> <01121> heart <03820> is encouraged <04390> to do <06213> evil <07451>.
12Even though <0834> a sinner <02398> might commit <06213> a hundred <03967> crimes <07451> and still live a long time <0748>, yet I <0589> know <03045> that <0834> it will go <01961> well <02896> with God-fearing <0430> <03372> people– for they stand in fear <03372> before <06440> him.
13But it will not <03808> go <01961> well <02896> with the wicked <07563>, nor <03808> will they prolong <0748> their days <03117> like a shadow <06738>, because <0834> they do not <0369> stand in fear <03373> before <06440> God <0430>.
14Here is <03426> another enigma <01892> that <0834> occurs <06213> on <05921> earth <0776>: Sometimes there are <03426> righteous <06662> people who <0834> get <05060> what <04639> the wicked <07563> deserve <05060>, and sometimes <03426> there are wicked <07563> people who get <05060> what <04639> the righteous <06662> deserve <05060>. I said <0559>, “This <02088> also <01571> is an enigma <01892>.”
15So I <0589> recommend <07623> the enjoyment <08057> of life, for there is nothing <0369> better <02896> on earth <08121> <08478> for <03588> a person <0120> to do except <0518> to eat <0398>, drink <08354>, and enjoy life <08055>. So joy will accompany <03867> him in his toil <05999> during the days <03117> of his life <02416> which <0834> God <0430> gives <05414> him on earth <08121> <08478>.
16When I tried <03820> <05414> to gain <03045> wisdom <02451> and to observe <07200> the activity <06045> on <05921> earth <0776>– even <01571> though <03588> it prevents <0369> <05869> anyone from sleeping <08142> day <03117> or night <03915>–
17then I discerned <07200> all <03605> that God <0430> has done <04639>: No <03808> one <0120> really comprehends <04672> what happens <06213> <0834> <04639> on earth <08121> <08478>. Despite <07945> all human <0120> efforts <05998> to discover <04672> it, no <03808> one can ever grasp <01245> it. Even <01571> if <0518> a wise person <02450> claimed <0559> that he understood <03045>, he would <03201> not <03808> really comprehend <04672> it.