If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for {he that is} higher than the highest regardeth; and {there be} higher than they. {at the... Heb. at the will, or, purpose}

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

There is a sore evil {which} I have seen under the sun, {namely}, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory {of this}, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to {thy} hurt, that thou shouldest fall, {even} thou, and Judah with thee? {at home: Heb. at thy house}

But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as {appeareth} this day.

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason {of things}, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness {and} madness: {I applied...: Heb. I and mine heart compassed}

And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all {is} vanity and vexation of spirit.

And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, {and} all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon. {put...: Heb. made blind}

So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, {and} apply thine heart to understanding;

There is a sore evil {which} I have seen under the sun, {namely}, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all {things} that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. {to be...: or, to afflict them}

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also {there is that} neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)