Ecclesiastes 8:1-8

1Who is really wise? Who knows how to explain things? Wisdom makes one’s face shine, and it changes one’s grim look.

2I ⌞advise⌟ you to obey the king’s commands because of the oath you took in God’s presence.

3Don’t be in a hurry to leave the king’s service. Don’t take part in something evil, because he can do whatever he pleases.

4Since a king’s word has such power, no one can ask him what he is doing.

5Whoever obeys his commands will avoid trouble. The mind of a wise person will know the right time and the right way ⌞to act⌟.

6There is a right time and a right way ⌞to act⌟ in every situation. Yet, a terrible human tragedy hangs over people.

7They don’t know what the future will bring. So who can tell them how things will turn out?

8No one has the power to prevent the spirit  of life from leaving. No one has control over the day of his own death. There is no way to avoid the war ⌞against death⌟. Wickedness will not save wicked people ⌞from dying⌟.