Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
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 men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
11
I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.
12 For man does not know his time. Like fish which are taken in an evil net, and like birds which are caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.
12
Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.
13 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.
13
I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed 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.
14
There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it.
15 But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
15
Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.
16 But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.
16
So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.
17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
17
The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.