A sign of true wisdom appeareth in observing God's commandments, 6. in this short time of meriting eternal reward. 9. Rule of others, 11. and want of fear hurt many. 14. Why God suffereth the wicked to prosper, and the just to be afflicted in this life, no mortal man can know.A signe of true wisdom appereth in obseruing Gods commandments, 6. in this shorte time of meriting eternal reward. 9. Rule of others, 11. and want of feare hurt manie. 14. Why God suffereth the wicked to prosper, and the iust to be afflicted in this life, no mortal man can know.✦
The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mighty will change his face,THe wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mightie wil change his face,✦Sapientia hominis lucet in vultu ejus, et potentissimus faciem illius commutabit.
2I observe the mouth of the king, and the precepts of the oath of God.I obserue the mouth of the king, and the precepts of the oath of God.✦Ego os regis observo, et præcepta juramenti Dei.
3Hasten not to depart from his face, nor continue thou in an evil work: because all that he pleaseth, he will do,Hasten not to depart from his face, nor continew thou in an euil worke: because al that he pleaseth, he wil doe,✦Ne festines recedere a facie ejus, neque permaneas in opere malo : quia omne quod voluerit faciet.
4and his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him, Why dost thou so?and his word is ful of powre: neither can anie man say to him. Why dost thou so?✦Et sermo illius potestate plenus est, nec dicere ei quisquam potest : Quare ita facis ?
5He that keepeth the precept, shall find no evil. The heart of a wise man understandeth time and answer.He that kepeth the precept, shal finde no euil. The hart of a wiseman vnderstandeth time and answer.✦Qui custodit præceptum non experietur quidquam mali. Tempus et responsionem cor sapientis intelligit.
6There is a time for all business, and opportunity, and much affliction of man:There is a time for al busines, and opportunitie, and much affliction of man:✦Omni negotio tempus est, et opportunitas : et multa hominis afflictio,
7because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he can know by no messenger.because he is ignorant of thinges past, and thinges to come he can know by no messenger.✦quia ignorat præterita, et futura nullo scire potest nuntio.
8It is not in man's power to prohibit the spirit, neither hath he power in the day of death, neither is he suffered to rest when war is at hand, neither shall impiety save the impious.It is not in mans powre to prohibite the spirite, neither hath he powre in the day of death, neither is he suffered to rest when warre is at hand, neither shal impietie saue the impious.✦Non est in hominis potestate prohibere spiritum, nec habet potestatem in die mortis : nec sinitur quiescere ingruente bello, neque salvabit impietas impium.
9All these things I have considered, and gave my heart on all the works, that are done under the sun. Sometime man ruleth over man to his own hurt.Al these thinges I haue considered, and gaue my hart on al the workes, that are done vnder the sunne. Sometime man ruleth ouer man to his owne hurt.✦Omnia hæc consideravi, et dedi cor meum in cunctis operibus quæ fiunt sub sole. Interdum dominatur homo homini in malum suum.
10I saw the impious buried: who also when they yet lived, were in holy place, and were praised in the city as men of just works. But this also is vanity.I saw the impious buried: who also when they yet liued, were in holie place, and were praised in the citie as men of iust workes. But this also is vanitie.✦Vidi impios sepultos, qui etiam cum adhuc viverent in loco sancto erant, et laudabantur in civitate quasi justorum operum. Sed et hoc vanitas est.
11Because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear.Because sentence is not speedely pronounced against the euil, the children of men committe euils without anie feare.✦Etenim quia non profertur cito contra malos sententia, absque timore ullo filii hominum perpetrant mala.
12But yet a sinner by this that he doth evil an hundred times, and by patience is borne withal, I know that it shall be good to them that fear God, which dread his face.But yet a sinner by this that he doth euil an hundred times, & by patience is borne withal, I know that it shal be good to them that feare God, which dread his face.✦Attamen peccator ex eo quod centies facit malum, et per patientiam sustentatur ; ego cognovi quod erit bonum timentibus Deum, qui verentur faciem ejus.
13Let there be no good to the impious, neither let his days be prolonged, but as a shadow let them pass, that fear not the face of our Lord.Let there be no good to the impious, neither let his dayes be prolonged, but as a shadow let them passe, that feare not the face of our Lord.✦Non sit bonum impio, nec prolongentur dies ejus, sed quasi umbra transeant qui non timent faciem Domini.
14There 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 impious: and there are impious men, which are so securi: safe from harm; carefree, free from anxiety, as though they had the deeds of the just. But this also I judge most vain.There is also an other vanitie, which is done vpon the earth. There are iust men, to whom euils happen, as though they had done the workes of the impious: and there are impious men, which are so secure, as though they had the dedes of the iust. But this also I iudge most vaine.✦Est et alia vanitas quæ fit super terram : sunt justi quibus mala proveniunt quasi opera egerint impiorum : et sunt impii qui ita securi sunt quasi justorum facta habeant. Sed et hoc vanissimum judico.
15I therefore have praised mirth that there was no good thing for a man under the sun, but that he should eat, and drink, and be glad: and this only he should take away with him of his labour in the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.I therfore haue praised mirth that there was no good thing for a man vnder the sunne, but that he should eate, and drinke, and be glad: and this only he should take away with him of his labour in the dayes of his life, which God hath geuen him vnder the sunne.✦Laudavi igitur lætitiam ; quod non esset homini bonum sub sole, nisi quod comederet, et biberet, atque gauderet, et hoc solum secum auferret de labore suo, in diebus vitæ suæ quos dedit ei Deus sub sole.
16And I have set my heart to know wisdom, and to understand the distentionem: diversion of attention; the busy occupation that engrosses the mind that is in the earth: There is a man that days and nights taketh no sleep with his eyes.And I haue set my hart to know wisdom, and to vnderstand the * distraction that is in the earth: There is a man that dayes and nightes taketh no slepe with his eyes.✦Et apposui cor meum ut scirem sapientiam, et intelligerem distentionem quæ versatur in terra. Est homo qui diebus et noctibus somnum non capit oculis.
17And 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 he can find: yea if the wise man shall say, that he knoweth, he is not able to find it.And I vnderstood that man can finde no reason of al those workes of God, that are done vnder the sunne: and the more he shal labour to seke, so much the lesse he can finde: yea if the wisman shal say, that he knoweth, he is not able to finde it.✦Et intellexi quod omnium operum Dei nullam possit homo invenire rationem eorum quæ fiunt sub sole ; et quanto plus laboraverit ad quærendum, tanto minus inveniat : etiam si dixerit sapiens se nosse, non poterit reperire.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.