AllthisI have seenand appliedmy mindto everydeedthat has been doneunderthe sunwhereina manhas exercisedauthorityover [another] manto his hurt.
They slaughteredthe sonsof Zedekiahbefore his eyes,then putout the eyesof Zedekiahand boundhim with bronzefettersand broughthim to Babylon.
The watersreturnedand coveredthe chariotsand the horsemen,even Pharaoh'sentirearmythat had goneinto the seaafterthem; not evenoneof them remained.
I have seenallthe workswhichhave been doneunderthe sun,and behold,allis vanityand strivingafter wind.
I have seenthe taskwhichGodhas giventhe sonsof menwith which to occupythemselves.
Furthermore,I have seenunderthe sun[that] in the placeof justicethereis wickednessand in the placeof righteousnessthereis wickedness.
Then I lookedagainat allthe actsof oppressionwhichwere being doneunderthe sun.And behold[I saw] the tearsof the oppressedand [that] they hadnooneto comfort[them]; and on the sideof their oppressorswas power,but they hadnooneto comfort[them].
Thereis a grievousevil[which] I have seenunderthe sun:richesbeing hoardedby their ownerto his hurt.
For in manydreamsand in manywordsthere is emptiness.Rather,fearGod.
Ifyou seeoppressionof the poorand denialof justiceand righteousnessin the province,do not be shockedat the sight;for one officialwatchesoveranother official,and there are higherofficialsoverthem.
I directedmy mindto know,to investigateand to seekwisdomand an explanation,and to knowthe evilof follyand the foolishnessof madness.
For oppressionmakesa wisemanmad,And a bribecorruptsthe heart.
"But Sihonkingof Heshbonwas not willingfor us to passthrough his land; for the LORDyour Godhardenedhis spiritand madehis heartobstinate,in orderto deliverhim into your hand,as [he is] today.
