Ecclesiastes 8:1-9

¹Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

²I counsel thee, Keep the king’s command, and that in regard of the oath of God.

³Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

⁴For the king’s word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

⁵Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerneth time and judgment:

⁶for to every purpose there is a time and judgment; because the misery of man is great upon him:

⁷for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?

⁸There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in war: neither shall wickedness deliver him that is given to it.

⁹All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man hath power over another to his hurt.