Ecclesiastes 7:29–8:9

²⁹Behold, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.

Chapter 8

¹Who is like the wise man?

And who knows the interpretation of a thing?

A man’s wisdom makes his face shine,

and the hardness of his countenance is changed.

²Keep^m the king’s command, and because of your sacred oath be not dismayed; ³go from his presence, do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he does whatever he pleases. ⁴For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” ⁵He who obeys a command will meet no harm, and the mind of a wise man will know the time and way. ⁶For every matter has its time and way, although man’s trouble lies heavy upon him. ⁷For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? ⁸No man has power to retain the spirit, or authority over the day of death; there is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. ⁹All this I observed while applying my mind to all that is done under the sun, while man lords it over man to his hurt.