8 Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing?

aA man’s wisdom makes his face shine,

And bthe 1sternness of his face is changed.

Obey Authorities for God’s Sake

2 I say, “Keep the king’s commandment cfor the sake of your oath to God. 3 dDo not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.”

4 Where the word of a king is, there is power;

And ewho may say to him, “What are you doing?”

5 He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful;

And a wise man’s heart 2discerns both time and judgment,

6 Because ffor every matter there is a time and judgment,

Though the misery of man 3increases greatly.

7 gFor he does not know what will happen;

So who can tell him when it will occur?

8 hNo one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit,

And no one has power in the day of death.

There is ino release from that war,

And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.

9 All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.