Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

English Standard Version

Wisdom Better Than Folly

^11 (A)Again I saw that under the sun ^(B)the race is not to the swift, nor ^(C)the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and ^(D)chance ^(E)happen to them all. ¹² For man ^(F)does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and ^(G)like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are ^(H)snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

¹³ I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. ¹⁴ There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. ¹⁵ But there was found in it ^(I)a poor, wise man, and he by his ^(J)wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. ¹⁶ But I say that ^(K)wisdom is better than might, though ^(L)the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

¹⁷ The words of the wise heard in ^(M)quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. ^18 (N)Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but ^(O)one sinner destroys much good.