Ecc 9:11 | NET2full | STEP | 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 .

‏ Ecclesiastes 9:11

Wisdom Cannot Protect against Seemingly Chance Events

11 Again, ^{▼▼tn Heb “I returned and.” In the Hebrew idiom, “to return and do” means “to do again.”} I observed this on the earth: ^{▼▼tn Heb “under the sun.”}
The race is not always ^{▼▼tn The term “always” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation (five times in this verse) for clarity.} won by the swiftest,
the battle is not always won by the strongest;
prosperity ^{▼▼tn Heb “bread.”} 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 ^{▼▼tn Heb “favor.”} always come to those with the most knowledge—
for time and chance may overcome ^{▼▼tn Heb “happen to.”} them all.