11. Again I saw under the sun that— the race is not to the swift,nor the battle to the strong,nor food to the wise,nor riches to the intelligent,nor favor to those with knowledge;but time and chance happen to them all.
12. For man does not know his time: Like fish caught in an unfortunate net,like birds caught in a snare,so the sons of men are ensnared at a tragic, yet appointed time,when it suddenly falls on them.
13. I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me:
14. There was a small city with a few men in it; and a great king came and surrounded it, and he built up great siege works against it.
15. But a poor, wise man was found there, and he himself in his wisdom delivered the city, but no one remembered that poor man.
16. Then I said, “Wisdom is better than strength; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.”
17. The words of the wise heard in quietness are betterthan the shouting of a ruler among fools.
18. Wisdom is better than weapons of war,but only one sinner can destroy much that is good.