12. For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.
13. I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.
14. There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.
15. But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
16. But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.
17. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.