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11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful, but time and chance happen to them all.(A) 12 For no one can anticipate one’s time. Like fish taken in a cruel net or like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.(B)

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11 I considered and observed on earth the following:

The race doesn’t go to the swift,
    nor the battle to the strong,
nor food to the wise,
    nor wealth to the smart,
nor recognition to the skilled.
    Instead, timing and circumstances meet them all.

12 In addition, no human being knows his time:

Like fish captured in a cruel net,
    or as birds caught in a snare,
so also are human beings caught by bad timing
    that surprises them.

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