Human Government Demonstrates Limitations of Wisdom

1Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem?

A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.

2Obey the king’s command,

because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.

3Do not rush out of the king’s presence in haste – do not delay when the matter is unpleasant,

for he can do whatever he pleases.

4Surely the king’s authority is absolute;

no one can say to him, “What are you doing?”

5Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm,

and a wise person knows the proper time and procedure.

6For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,

for the oppression of the king is severe upon his victim.

7Surely no one knows the future,

and no one can tell another person what will happen.

8Just as no one has power over the wind to restrain it,

so no one has power over the day of his death.

Just as no one can be discharged during the battle,

so wickedness cannot rescue the wicked.

9While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this:

Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.

Contradictions to the Law of Retribution

10Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple,

and as they left the holy temple, they

boasted in the city that they had done so.

This also is an enigma.

11When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime,

the human heart is encouraged to do evil.

12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time,

yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people – for they stand in fear before him.

13But it will not go well with the wicked,

nor will they prolong their days like a shadow,

because they do not stand in fear before God.

14Here is another enigma that occurs on earth:

Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve,

and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve.

I said, “This also is an enigma.”

Enjoy Life In Spite of Its Injustices

15So I recommend the enjoyment of life,

for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life.

So joy will accompany him in his toil

during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.

Limitations of Human Wisdom

16When I tried to gain wisdom

and to observe the activity on earth –

even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night –

17then I discerned all that God has done:

No one really comprehends what happens on earth.

Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it.

Even if a wise person claimed that he understood,

he would not really comprehend it.