Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 8

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mighty will change his face.	1 Who compares with the sage? Who else knows how to explain things? Wisdom lights up the face,enlivening a grim expression.
2 I observe the mouth of the king, and the commandments of the oath of God.	2 Obey the king's command and, because of the divine promise,
3 Be not hasty to depart from his face, and do not continue in an evil work: for he will do all that pleaseth him:	3 be in no hurry to depart from it; do not be obstinate in a bad cause, since the king wil do as he likes inany case.
4 And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why dost thou so?	4 Since the word of a king is sovereign, what is the point of saying, 'Why do that?'
5 He that keepeth the commandments shall find no evil. The heart of a wise man understandeth time and answer.	5 One who obeys the command will come to no harm; the heart of the sage knows the right moment andverdict,
6 There is a time and opportunity for every business, and great affliction for man:	6 for there is a right moment and verdict for everything; but misfortune lies heavy upon anyone
7 Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he cannot know by any messenger.	7 who does not know what the outcome wil be, no one is going to say how things wil turn out.
8 It is not in man's power to stop the spirit, neither hath he power in the day of death, neither is he suffered to rest when war is at hand, neither shall wickedness save the wicked.	8 No one can control the wind and stop it from blowing, no one can control the day of death. From warthere is no escape, no more can wickedness save the person who commits it.
9 All these things I have considered, and applied my heart to all the works that are done under the sun. Sometimes one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.	9 I have seen al this to be so, having careful y studied everything taking place under the sun, while oneperson tyrannises over another to the former's detriment.
10 I saw the wicked buried: who also when they were yet living were in the holy place, and were praised in the city as men of just works: but this also is vanity.	10 And again, I have observed the wicked carried to their graves, and people leaving the holy place and,once out in the city, forgetting how the wicked used to behave; how futile this is too!
11 For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear.	11 Because the sentence on the evil-doer is not carried out on the instant, people's hearts are ful ofdesire to do wrong.
12 But though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and by patience be borne withal, I know from thence that it shall be well with them that fear God, who dread his face.	12 The sinner who does wrong a hundred times lives on. But this too I know, that there is good in store forpeople who fear God, because they fear him,
13 But let it not be well with the wicked, neither let his days be prolonged, but as a shadow let them pass away that fear not the face of the Lord.	13 but there is no good in store for the wicked because he does not fear God, and so, like a shadow, hewil not prolong his days.
14 There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are just men to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the wicked: and there are wicked men, who are as secure, as though they had the deeds of the just: but this also I judge most vain.	14 Another futile thing that happens on earth: upright people being treated as though they were wickedand wicked people being treated as though they were upright. To me this is one more example of futility.
15 Therefore I commended mirth, because there was no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry, and that he should take nothing else with him of his labour in the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.	15 And therefore I praise joy, since human happiness lies only in eating and drinking and in takingpleasure; this comes from what someone achieves during the days of life that God gives under the sun.
16 And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to understand the distraction that is upon earth: for there are some that day and night take no sleep with their eyes.	16 Having applied myself to acquiring wisdom and to observing the activity taking place in the world -- forday and night our eyes enjoy no rest-
17 And I understood that man can find no reason of all those works of God that are done under the sun: and the more he shall labour to seek, so much the less shall he find: yea, though the wise man shall say, that he knoweth it, he shall not be able to find it.	17 I have scrutinised God's whole creation: you cannot get to the bottom of everything taking place underthe sun; you may wear yourself out in the search, but you wil never find it. Not even a sage can get to thebottom of it, even if he says that he has done so.