1 Who is like the sage? Who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
2 Keep the command of the king because of your oath to God.
3 Do not be terrified of his presence! Go at once and do not delay when a matter is unpleasant, for he can do anything that he desires.
4 Since the word of the king is supreme, no one can say to him, “What are you doing?”
5 Whoever obeys his command will not suffer disaster. The wise mind knows the proper time and the right procedure.
6 For there is a proper time and right procedure for every matter, even though the trouble of man weighs heavy upon him.
7 Surely no one knows what will be, so who can tell anyone what will happen?