Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:15

11I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

12Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.

Wisdom Better Than Folly 13I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: 14There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. 15Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.

16So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

17The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

1As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

2The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.

3Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.

4If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.

5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler:

6Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones.

7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.

8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

10If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.

11If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.

12Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.

13At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—

14and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

15The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.