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Ecclesiastes 9:11

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¶ 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.

I returned {H7725}, and saw {H7200} under the sun {H8121}, that the race {H4793} is not to the swift {H7031}, nor the battle {H4421} to the strong {H1368}, neither yet bread {H3899} to the wise {H2450}, nor yet riches {H6239} to men of understanding {H995}, nor yet favour {H2580} to men of skill {H3045}; but time {H6256} and chance {H6294} happeneth {H7136} to them all.

Yet another thing I observed under the sun is that races aren't won by the swift or battles by the strong, and that food doesn't go to the wise or wealth to the intelligent or favor to the experts; rather, time and chance rule them all.

I 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.

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 favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Commentary

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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 9:23 (30 votes)

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches:

  • Proverbs 21:30 (25 votes)

    ¶ [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

  • Proverbs 21:31 (25 votes)

    The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD.

  • Lamentations 3:37 (21 votes)

    ¶ Who [is] he [that] saith, and it cometh to pass, [when] the Lord commandeth [it] not?

  • Lamentations 3:38 (21 votes)

    Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

  • Ecclesiastes 3:17 (19 votes)

    I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for [there is] a time there for every purpose and for every work.

  • Job 5:11 (18 votes)

    To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.