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Ecclesiastes 9:11

WEB

11I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

KJV

11¶ I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

BSB

11I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.

FBV

11I thought about other things that happen here on earth. Races are not always won by the fastest runner. Battles are not always decided by the strongest warrior. Also, the wise do not always have food, intelligent people do not always make money, and those who are clever do not always win favor. Time and chance affect all of them.

Extra References

Jeremiah 9:23

23The LORD says, “Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom. Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might. Don’t let the rich man glory in his riches.

Proverbs 21:30-31

30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. 31The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.

Lamentations 3:37-38

37Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn’t command it? 38Doesn’t evil and good come out of the mouth of the Most High?

Job 5:11-14

11so that he sets up on high those who are low, those who mourn are exalted to safety. 12He frustrates the plans of the crafty, so that their hands can’t perform their enterprise. 13He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong. 14They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope at noonday as in the night.

Ecclesiastes 3:17

17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

Amos 2:14-16

14Flight will perish from the swift. The strong won’t strengthen his force. The mighty won’t deliver himself. 15He who handles the bow won’t stand. He who is swift of foot won’t escape. He who rides the horse won’t deliver himself. 16He who is courageous among the mighty will flee away naked on that day,” says the LORD.

Ecclesiastes 3:14

14I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.

Psalms 147:10-11

10He doesn’t delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. 11The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.

Ephesians 1:11

11We were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will,

2 Chronicles 20:15

15and he said, “Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat. The LORD says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.