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.

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11 I have seen something else under the sun:

The race is not to the swift
    or the battle to the strong,(A)
nor does food come to the wise(B)
    or wealth to the brilliant
    or favor to the learned;
but time and chance(C) happen to them all.(D)

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23 Thus says the Lord: (A)“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,

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23 This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom(A)
    or the strong boast of their strength(B)
    or the rich boast of their riches,(C)

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30 (A)No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
    can avail against the Lord.
31 (B)The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but (C)the victory belongs to the Lord.

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30 There is no wisdom,(A) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.(B)

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.(C)

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37 (A)Who has spoken and it came to pass,
    unless the Lord has commanded it?
38 (B)Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
    that good and bad come?

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37 Who can speak and have it happen
    if the Lord has not decreed it?(A)
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
    that both calamities and good things come?(B)

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11 he (A)sets on high those who are lowly,
    and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He (B)frustrates the devices of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He (C)catches the wise in their own craftiness,
    and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime
    and (D)grope at noonday as in the night.

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11 The lowly he sets on high,(A)
    and those who mourn(B) are lifted(C) to safety.
12 He thwarts the plans(D) of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.(E)
13 He catches the wise(F) in their craftiness,(G)
    and the schemes of the wily are swept away.(H)
14 Darkness(I) comes upon them in the daytime;
    at noon they grope as in the night.(J)

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17 I said in my heart, (A)God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is (B)a time for every matter and for every work.

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17 I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment(A)
    both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
    a time to judge every deed.”(B)

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14 (A)Flight shall perish from the swift,
    (B)and the strong shall not retain his strength,
    (C)nor shall the mighty save his life;
15 he who handles the bow shall not stand,
    and he who is (D)swift of foot shall not save himself,
    (E)nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;
16 and he who is stout of heart among the mighty
    shall flee away naked in that day,”
declares the Lord.

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14 The swift will not escape,(A)
    the strong(B) will not muster their strength,
    and the warrior will not save his life.(C)
15 The archer(D) will not stand his ground,
    the fleet-footed soldier will not get away,
    and the horseman(E) will not save his life.(F)
16 Even the bravest warriors(G)
    will flee naked on that day,”
declares the Lord.

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14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; (A)nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

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14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.(A)

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10 His delight is not in (A)the strength of the horse,
    nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the Lord (B)takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who (C)hope in his steadfast love.

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10 His pleasure is not in the strength(A) of the horse,(B)
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(C) in those who fear him,(D)
    who put their hope(E) in his unfailing love.(F)

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15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, (A)‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, (B)for the battle is not yours but God's.

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15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged(A) because of this vast army. For the battle(B) is not yours, but God’s.

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11 In him we have obtained (A)an inheritance, (B)having been predestined (C)according to the purpose of him who works all things according to (D)the counsel of his will,

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11 In him we were also chosen,[a] having been predestined(A) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose(B) of his will,

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:11 Or were made heirs

14 (A)The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the (B)same event happens to all of them. 15 Then I said in my heart, (C)“What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

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14 The wise have eyes in their heads,
    while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize
    that the same fate overtakes them both.(A)

15 Then I said to myself,

“The fate of the fool will overtake me also.
    What then do I gain by being wise?”(B)
I said to myself,
    “This too is meaningless.”

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18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for (A)it is he who gives you power to get wealth, (B)that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

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18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth,(A) and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

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