Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 8

DOUAI-RHEIMS	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mighty will change his face.	1 Who 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.
2 I observe the mouth of the king, and the commandments of the oath of God.	2 Keep the king's command, and because of your sacred oath be not dismayed;
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 go from his presence, do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he does whatever he pleases.
4 And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why dost thou so?	4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"
5 He that keepeth the commandments shall find no evil. The heart of a wise man understandeth time and answer.	5 He who obeys a command will meet no harm, and the mind of a wise man will know the time and way.
6 There is a time and opportunity for every business, and great affliction for man:	6 For every matter has its time and way, although man's trouble lies heavy upon him.
7 Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he cannot know by any messenger.	7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?
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 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.
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 All this I observed while applying my mind to all that is done under the sun, while man lords it over man to his hurt.
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 Then I saw the wicked buried; they used to go in and out of the holy place, and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.
11 For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear.	11 Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the sons of men is fully set to do evil.
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 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before 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 it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
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 There is a vanity which takes place on earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.
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 I commend enjoyment, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink, and enjoy himself, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of life which God gives him 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 When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night one's eyes see sleep;
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 then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out; even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.