Chapter 8

Who [is] as the wise [man]? and who knoweth⁶ the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine,⁵⁵ and the boldness of his face shall be changed.²⁹

I [counsel thee] to keep³ the king's commandment, and [that] in regard of the oath of God.

Be not hasty¹¹ to go⁴ out of his sight: stand⁴ not in an evil thing; for he doeth⁴ whatsoever pleaseth⁴ him.

Where the word of a king [is, there is] power: and who may say⁴ unto him, What doest⁴ thou?

Whoso keepeth⁶ the commandment shall feel⁴ no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth⁴ both time and judgment.

Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man [is] great upon him.

For he knoweth⁶ not that which shall be: for who can tell⁵⁵ him when it shall be?

[There is] no man that hath power over the spirit to retain² the spirit; neither [hath he] power in the day of death: and [there is] no discharge in [that] war; neither shall wickedness deliver¹⁷ those that are given to it.

All this have I seen,¹ and applied² my heart unto every work that is done⁸ under the sun: [there is] a time wherein one man ruleth¹ over another to his own hurt.

And so I saw¹ the wicked buried,⁷ who had come¹ and gone¹⁷ from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten¹⁰¹ in the city where they had so done:¹ this [is] also vanity.

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed⁸ speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set¹ in them to do² evil.

Though a sinner⁶ do⁶ evil an hundred times, and his [days] be prolonged,⁵⁶ yet surely I know⁶ that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear⁴ before him:

But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong⁵⁵ [his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

There is a vanity which is done⁸ upon the earth; that there be just [men], unto whom it happeneth⁵⁶ according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked [men], to whom it happeneth⁵⁶ according to the work of the righteous: I said¹ that this also [is] vanity.

Then I commended¹⁴ mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat,² and to drink,² and to be merry:² for that shall abide⁴ with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth¹ him under the sun.

When I applied¹ mine heart to know² wisdom, and to see² the business that is done⁸ upon the earth: (for also [there is that] neither day nor night seeth⁶ sleep with his eyes:)

Then I beheld¹ all the work of God, that a man cannot ^{3201 4} find out² the work that is done⁸ under the sun: because though ⁷⁹⁴⁵ a man labour⁴ to seek¹⁵ [it] out, yet he shall not find⁴ [it]; yea further; though a wise [man] think⁴ to know² [it], yet shall he not be able⁴ to find² [it].