| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Who is really wise? Who knows how to interpret this saying: "A person's wisdom improves his appearance, softening a harsh countenance." | 1Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person's wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance. |
| 2I advise doing what the king says, especially regarding an oath to God. | 2Obey the king's command, because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him. |
| 3Don't be in a hurry to leave him, and don't persist in evil, for he does whatever he pleases. | 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. |
| 4Since a king's command is powerful, who is able to challenge him, asking, "What are you doing?" | 4Surely the king's authority is absolute; no one can say to him, "What are you doing?" |
| 5Whoever obeys his commands will not experience harm, and the wise in heart will discern both the appropriate time and response. | 5Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm, and a wise person knows the proper time and procedure. |
| 6Indeed, there is an appropriate time and a response for every circumstance, since human misery weighs heavily upon him. | 6For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, for the oppression of the king is severe upon his victim. |
| 7For he has absolutely no knowledge what will happen, since who can declare to him when it will come about? | 7Surely no one knows the future, and no one can tell another person what will happen. |
| 8Just as no human being has control over the wind to restrain it, so also no human being has control over the day of his death. Just as no one is discharged during war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it. | 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. |
| 9I observed all this, and carefully considered everything that is undertaken on earth, especially the time when someone dominates another to his detriment. | 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. |
| 10So I watched the wicked being entombed. They used to come in and out of the Holy Place, but now they are forgotten in the city, where they used to work. This, too, is pointless. | 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. |
| 11Whenever a sentence for a crime is not carried out swiftly, the human mind becomes determined to commit evil. | 11When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime, the human heart is encouraged to do evil. |
| 12Even though a sinner does what is wrong a hundred times and still survives, nevertheless I also know that things will go well for those who fear God, who fear in his presence. | 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 things will not go well for the wicked person: he will not lengthen his life like a shadow, since he has no fear before God. | 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 a pointless thing that happens on earth: A righteous man receives what happens to the wicked, and a wicked man receives what happens to the righteous. I concluded that this, too, is pointless. | 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." |
| 15So then I recommended enjoyment of life, because it is better on earth for a man to eat, drink, and be happy, since this will stay with him throughout his struggle all the days of his life, which God grants him on earth. | 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. |
| 16When I dedicated myself to experience wisdom and to observe what is undertaken on earth—even going without sleep day and night— | 16When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth--even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night-- |
| 17I saw all of it as the activity of God. Frankly, a human being cannot understand what happens on earth, because however hard a man works to discover it, he will not find out. Despite what he thinks he knows, he will not be able to figure it out. | 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. |
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