Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8

Is any equall to the truly wise?
To him that can interpret Mysteries?
For wisedome makes the face of Man to shine
With awefull Majestie, and Light Divine.
Observe the Kings Commands: Remember thou,
Even in that Dutie, thy Religious vow.
Depart not discontented; nor Dispute
With him, who can with Punishments confute.
For Power is throned in the Breath of Kings:
And who dare say, they charge unlawfull things.
He who obayes, Destruction shall eschew:
A wise man knowes both when, and what, to doe.
For all our Purposes on Time depend,
And Judgement; to produce them to their end.
They wander in the Pensive shades of Night;
Who want the guide of this directing Light:
Surpriz'd by unexpected Miseries;
Nor can Instruction make the foolish wise.
What Guard of Teeth can keepe our parting Breath?
Or who resist the fatall Stroake of Death?
None shall returne with conquest from that field:
Nor Vice Protection to the vitious yield.
This Vanitie I saw beneath the Sun;
The Mighty by abused Power undone:
And though intomb'd with sumptuous funerall;
In his owne Citie soone forgot by all.
Impiety delights in her misdeeds;
In that Revenge so tardily succeeds.
Although a Sinner, sinne a hundred times;
And were his Yeares as numerous as his Crimes:
Yet God to those his Mercy will extend,
Whose humble Soules are fearefull to offend.
But bold Transgressors with destruction meet:
Their shortned Dayes shall like a shadow fleet.
Among the Sonnes of Men, this mischiefe raignes;
Exalted Vice the meed of Vertue gaines:
And those afflictions which to Vice are due,
Suppressed Vertue furiously pursue.
Then I commended Life-prolonging Mirth:
To feed upon the Bounty of the Earth,
And drinke the generous Grapes refreshing juyce;
Is all the good our Labours can produce.
This is the best of Life: by God alone
Bestow'd on Man; and only is his owne.