English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
1 Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
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Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.
2 I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him.
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Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God.
3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.
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Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.
4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"
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Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.
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Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.
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For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery.
7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?
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Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come?
8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.
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As no one has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power over the time of their death. As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
9 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.
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All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
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