Ecclesiastes 8:1-9

English Standard Version

Keep the King's Command

8 Who is like the wise?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
^(A)A man's wisdom makes his face shine,
and ^(B)the hardness of his face is changed.

²I say:^[a] Keep the king's command, because of ^(C)God's oath to him.^[b] ³Be not hasty to ^(D)go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. ⁴For the word of the king is supreme, and ^(E)who may say to him, “What are you doing?” ⁵Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.^[c] ⁶For there is a time and a way ^(F)for everything, although man's trouble^[d] lies heavy on him. ⁷For he ^(G)does not know what is to be, for ^(H)who can tell him how it will be? ⁸No man has power to ^(I)retain the spirit, ^(J)or power over the day of death. There is no ^(K)discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. ⁹^(L)All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.