Ecclesiastes 8

Thomson^{(i) 1} Doth any one know wise men? Doth any one know the solution of a matter? Wisdom will make his countenance shine; but one of an unblushing countenance will be hated. ² Watch the mouth of a king, and in regard to the oath of God be not impatient. ³ From his presence thou mayst withdraw. Stay not when he giveth wicked orders; for he will do what he pleaseth, ⁴ as a king is absolute; and who can say to him, What dost thou? ⁵ He who keepeth a command will not acknowledge it to be; a wicked order; but a wise man's heart knoweth the time of judgment, that; there is a time and a judgment for everything. ⁶ Because the man's determination may be much against him; ⁷ because none knoweth what may happen, who can tell him what may come to pass? ⁸ No man is absolute commander over wind to stop the current of it, and over the day of death he hath no authority; nor is there a discharge in the day of battle; nor can wickedness save him who is under its sway. ⁹ Having taken a view of this as a whole, I applied my heart to every work which is done under the sun; to all those things in which man exerciseth authority over man to his hurt. ¹⁰ And I then saw wicked men carried to their graves, even out of this holy place; and when they were gone, they were praised in the city, because they had done as they did. Surely this is vanity. ¹¹ Because those who do evil are not speedily called to an account, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully set in them to do evil. ¹² He who sinned continued thenceforward to do evil, even because of the forbearance shewn to them. Now as I know that it is good for them who fear God, that they should be awed by his presence; ¹³ and that it cannot be well with the wicked; and that he who is not awed by the presence of God cannot prolong his days at ease; ¹⁴ this which is practised on earth is vanity. Because there are righteous men on whom cometh as it were the work of the wicked; and because there are wicked men on whom cometh, as it were, the work of the righteous, I said that this is also surely vanity; ¹⁵ and I praised pleasurable enjoyment, because there is nothing good for men under the sun; nothing save eating and drinking and being made glad; and this one may have conjoined with his labour all the days of his life which God giveth him under the sun. ¹⁶ In all those things to which I applied my heart to know wisdom and to take a view of the business which is done on the earth; because day and night this is never at rest, ¹⁷ therefore took a view of all the works of God in classes; for man is incapable of finding out the whole system of things under the sun. Let a man labour ever so much in the search he cannot find it out; and let a wise man say ever so much of knowing he cannot find it; for this cause I laid this whole system before my heart, and my heart took a view of it.