Ecclesiastes 8:1-8 ▼

1 Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom illumines his face and causes his stern face to beam.

2 I say, “Keep the command of the king because of the sworn oath before God.

3 Do not be in a hurry to go from his presence. Do not stand in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.”

4 Since the word of the king is powerful, who will say to him, “What are you doing?”

5 He who keeps a royal command experiences no evil thing, for a wise heart knows the proper time and custom.

6 For there is a proper time and custom for every matter, though a man’s trouble is multiplied upon him.

7 If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?

8 There is no man who has power to restrain the wind with the wind, and there is none who has power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and wickedness will not provide escape to its masters.