Ecclesiastes 9:11

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor does bread come to the wise, nor riches to the discerning, nor favor to the knowledgeable; but time and chance happen to them all.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    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.

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    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.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    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.

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    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.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    So I turned me vnto other thinges vnder ye Sonne, and I sawe, that in runnynge, it helpeth not to be swift: in batayll, it helpeth not to be stronge: to fedynge, it helpeth not to be wyse: to riches, it helpeth not to be sutyll: to be had in fauoure, it helpeth not to be connynge: but that all lyeth in tyme & fortune.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    I returned, and I sawe vnder the sunne that the race is not to the swift, nor the battell to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor also riches to men of vnderstanding, neither yet fauour to men of knowledge: but time and chance commeth to them all.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    So I turned me vnto other thinges vnder the sunne, & I sawe that in running it helpeth not to be swift, in battell it helpeth not to be strong, to feeding it helpeth not to be wyse, to riches it helpeth not to be a man of muche vnderstanding, to be had in fauour it helpeth not to be cunning: but that all lieth in tyme and fortune.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    ¶ 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.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    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 happen to them all.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    I have turned so as to see under the sun, that not to the swift `is' the race, nor to the mighty the battle, nor even to the wise bread, nor even to the intelligent wealth, nor even to the skilful grace, for time and chance happen with them all.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    And again I saw under the sun that the reward goes not to him who is quick, or the fruits of war to the strong; and there is no bread for the wise, or wealth for men of learning, or respect for those who have knowledge; but time and chance come to all.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    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 happen to them all.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    Wisdom Cannot Protect against Seemingly Chance Events Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge– for time and chance may overcome them all.

Referenced Verses

  • Jer 9:23 : 23 But let the one who boasts boast in this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight, declares the Lord.
  • Prov 21:30-31 : 30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel that can stand against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.
  • Lam 3:37-38 : 37 Who can speak and have it come to pass, unless the Lord has decreed it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good come?
  • Amos 2:14-16 : 14 Flight will perish from the swift, the strong will not retain their strength, and the warrior will not save his life. 15 The archer will not stand his ground, the swift-footed will not escape, and the horseman will not save his life. 16 Even the bravest of warriors will flee naked on that day,' declares the LORD.
  • Eph 1:11 : 11 In Him we have also obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
  • Jer 46:6 : 6 The swift cannot flee, nor can the strong escape. In the north, by the river Euphrates, they stumble and fall.
  • Ps 33:16-17 : 16 A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a false hope for victory, and its great strength does not provide escape.
  • Ps 73:6-7 : 6 Therefore, pride is their necklace; violence clothes them like a garment. 7 Their eyes bulge from fatness; their imaginations overflow with malice.
  • Ps 147:10-11 : 10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love.
  • Eccl 2:12 : 12 So I turned my attention to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can anyone do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.
  • Eccl 2:14-15 : 14 The wise have eyes in their heads, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate overtakes them both. 15 Then I said in my heart, 'What happens to the fool will also happen to me. So why have I been so very wise?' And I concluded in my heart, 'This too is meaningless.'
  • Eccl 3:14 : 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it nor taken from it. God does this so that people will fear Him.
  • Eccl 3:17 : 17 I said in my heart, 'God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.'
  • Eccl 4:1 : 1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that is done under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter. Power was on the side of their oppressors, and they had no comforter.
  • Eccl 4:4 : 4 And I saw that all toil and all skill in work are driven by one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
  • Eccl 7:13 : 13 Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
  • 2 Sam 17:23 : 23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, set out for his house in his hometown, set his house in order, and then hanged himself. He died and was buried in his father's tomb.
  • 2 Chr 20:15 : 15 He said: 'Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.'
  • Job 5:11-14 : 11 He sets the lowly on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. 12 He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands achieve no success. 13 He traps the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the twisted are quickly foiled. 14 They encounter darkness by day and grope in the noonday as if it were night.
  • Job 34:29 : 29 When He gives quietness, who can condemn? When He hides His face, who can behold Him? Yet He watches over both nation and man alike.
  • Deut 8:18 : 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to gain wealth, so that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is today.
  • 2 Sam 17:14 : 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, 'The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.' For the LORD had ordained to thwart the good advice of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring disaster upon Absalom.
  • Mal 3:18 : 18 Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
  • 1 Sam 2:3-9 : 3 'Do not keep speaking so arrogantly or let proud words come out of your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him deeds are weighed.' 4 'The bows of the mighty are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.' 5 'Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. The barren woman has borne seven children, but she who has many sons languishes.' 6 'The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.' 7 'The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He humbles and He exalts.' 8 'He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap to sit with nobles and inherit a seat of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; upon them He has set the world.' 9 'He guards the feet of His faithful ones, but the wicked are silenced in darkness. For it is not by strength that one prevails.' 10 'The LORD will shatter His adversaries; He will thunder against them from heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed.'
  • 1 Sam 17:50 : 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone. Without a sword in his hand, he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
  • 2 Sam 2:18-23 : 18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift on foot as a gazelle in the open field. 19 Asahel pursued Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he chased him. 20 Then Abner turned and said, 'Is that you, Asahel?' He answered, 'It is I.' 21 Abner said to him, 'Turn aside to your right or to your left; seize one of the young men and take his armor.' But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 Again Abner said to Asahel, 'Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you down? How could I then show my face to your brother Joab?' 23 But Asahel refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died stood still.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 9:12-13
    2 verses
    80%

    12For no one knows their time. Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so are people ensnared by an evil time when it suddenly falls upon them.

    13I also saw this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.

  • Eccl 9:10
    76%

    10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

  • Eccl 9:1-3
    3 verses
    76%

    1So I reflected on all this and set my heart to examine it: that the righteous, the wise, and their deeds are in the hand of God. People do not know whether love or hatred awaits them; everything lies before them.

    2Everything happens alike to everyone: the same fate comes to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the pure and the impure, to those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As with the good person, so with the sinner; as with those who swear oaths, so with those who avoid them.

    3This is the distressing thing about everything that happens under the sun: the same fate befalls all. Moreover, the hearts of humans are full of evil, and madness resides in their hearts during their lives; and after that, they join the dead.

  • Eccl 8:9
    75%

    9I observed all this as I considered all the work done under the sun: a time when one man has power over another to hurt them.

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    75%

    16When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to observe the work that is done on earth, even though people do not see sleep with their eyes day or night,

    17then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    73%

    11The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?

    12For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

  • Eccl 2:19-22
    4 verses
    73%

    19And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.

    20So I turned my heart to despair over all the hard work with which I had labored under the sun.

    21For there is a person who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but then must leave everything to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

    22What does a person gain from all their labor and from the striving of their heart under the sun?

  • Eccl 8:14
    73%

    14There is a futility that takes place on the earth: righteous people receive what the wicked deserve, and wicked people receive what the righteous deserve. I said, 'This too is vanity.'

  • Eccl 3:9-12
    4 verses
    72%

    9What does the worker gain from all their toil?

    10I have seen the burden that God has laid on the human race.

    11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

    12I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live.

  • Eccl 7:14-15
    2 verses
    72%

    14When times are good, be joyful; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

    15In my fleeting life, I have seen it all: The righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

  • Eccl 11:6
    72%

    6Sow your seed in the morning and do not withhold your hand in the evening, for you do not know which will prosper—whether this or that, or if both will equally thrive.

  • Eccl 2:11
    72%

    11Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, behold, everything was meaningless—a chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.

  • Eccl 3:19-20
    2 verses
    71%

    19For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over animals, for everything is meaningless.

    20All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.

  • Eccl 3:22
    71%

    22So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

  • Eccl 4:7
    71%

    7Again, I turned and saw meaninglessness under the sun.

  • Eccl 3:1
    71%

    1There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.

  • Eccl 8:6-7
    2 verses
    71%

    6For every purpose there is a proper time and procedure, though the misery of mankind weighs heavily upon them.

    7Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell anyone what is to come?

  • Eccl 6:1-2
    2 verses
    71%

    1There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is great upon humanity.

    2God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires. Yet God does not enable him to enjoy them, but instead a foreigner eats them. This is meaningless and a grievous misfortune.

  • Eccl 6:6-8
    3 verses
    71%

    6Even if someone lives a thousand years twice over but does not enjoy their prosperity, do not all go to the same place?

    7All human toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.

    8What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?

  • Eccl 5:16
    70%

    16Throughout his days, he eats in darkness, with great frustration, sickness, and anger.

  • Eccl 2:24-26
    3 verses
    70%

    24There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.

    25For who can eat or who can enjoy life apart from Him?

    26To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 1:9
    70%

    9What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

  • Eccl 3:6
    70%

    6A time to search and a time to give up; a time to keep and a time to throw away.

  • Eccl 1:3
    70%

    3What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

  • Eccl 2:15
    69%

    15Then I said in my heart, 'What happens to the fool will also happen to me. So why have I been so very wise?' And I concluded in my heart, 'This too is meaningless.'

  • Eccl 4:3
    69%

    3But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

  • Eccl 1:13-14
    2 verses
    69%

    13I set my heart to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a burdensome task God has given to the human race to occupy themselves with!

    14I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun; they are all meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Job 32:9
    69%

    9It is not merely the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.

  • Eccl 11:1
    69%

    1Send your bread upon the waters, for in many days you will find it again.

  • Eccl 5:18
    69%

    18Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.