Ecc 9:11 | NETfull | 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, ^{▼▼ Heb “I returned and.” In the Hebrew idiom, “to return and do” means “to do again.”} I observed this on the earth: ^{▼▼ Heb “under the sun.”}
the race is not always ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼ Heb “favor.”} always come to those with the most knowledge –
for time and chance may overcome ^{▼▼ Heb “happen to.”} them all.