Ecclesiastes 8:1-12

¹The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mighty will change his face.

²I observe the mouth of the king, and the commandments of the oath of God.

³Be not hasty to depart from his face, and do not continue in an evil work: for he will do all that pleaseth him:

⁴And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why dost thou so?

⁵He that keepeth the commandments shall find no evil. The heart of a wise man understandeth time and answer.

⁶There is a time and opportunity for every business, and great affliction for man:

⁷Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he cannot know by any messenger.

⁸It is not in man’s power to stop the spirit, neither hath he power in the day of death, neither is he suffered to rest when war is at hand, neither shall wickedness save the wicked.

⁹All these things I have considered, and applied my heart to all the works that are done under the sun. Sometimes one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

¹⁰I saw the wicked buried: who also when they were yet living were in the holy place, and were praised in the city as men of just works: but this also is vanity.

¹¹For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear.

¹²But though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and by patience be borne withal, I know from thence that it shall be well with them that fear God, who dread his face.