¹² Truly, you have all seen it yourselves; why then have you become completely foolish?

²⁵ How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments?

²⁶ My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind.

²⁷ Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend.

²⁸ Now then, let your eyes be turned to me, for truly I will not say what is false to your face.

²⁹ Let your minds be changed, and do not have an evil opinion of me; yes, be changed, for my righteousness is still in me.

¹⁴ There is a thing which is to no purpose done on the earth: that there are good men to whom is given the same punishment as those who are evil, and there are evil men who get the reward of the good. I say that this again is to no purpose.

² How have you given help to him who has no power! how have you been the salvation of the arm which has no strength!

³ How have you given teaching to him who has no wisdom, and fully made clear true knowledge!

⁴ To whom have your words been said? and whose spirit came out from you?

²⁸ For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?

²⁹ Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?

³⁰ How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?

³ Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.

² How long will you make my life bitter, crushing me with words?

³ Ten times now you have made sport of me; it gives you no sense of shame to do me wrong.

² Truly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing.

³ May words which are like the wind be stopped? or what is troubling you to make answer to them?

⁴ But you put a false face on things; all your attempts to put things right are of no value.

⁵ If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!

⁶ Give ear to the argument of my mouth, and take note of the words of my lips.

⁷ Will you say in God's name what is not right, and put false words into his mouth?

⁸ Will you have respect for God's person in this cause, and put yourselves forward as his supporters?

⁹ Will it be good for you to be searched out by him, or have you the thought that he may be guided into error like a man?

¹ All this I took to heart, and my heart saw it all: that the upright and the wise and their works are in the hand of God; and men may not be certain if it will be love or hate; all is to no purpose before them.

² Because to all there is one event, to the upright man and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him who makes an offering and to him who makes no offering; as is the good so is the sinner; he who takes an oath is as he who has fear of it.

³ This is evil in all things which are done under the sun: that there is one fate for all, and the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; while they have life their hearts are foolish, and after that--to the dead.