Ecclesiastes 9:11–18

11 I ureturned, and saw under the sun, that xthe race is not to the swift, nor ythe battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet zfavour to men of skill; but time and achance bhappeneth to them all. 12 For cman also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil dnet, and as ethe birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men fsnared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and gbesieged it, and built great hbulwarks against it: 15 Now there was found in it a ipoor wise man, and he kby his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same ipoor man. 16 Then said I, lWisdom is better than strength: nevertheless mthe ipoor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard in nquiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 lWisdom is better than weapons of war: but oone sinner destroyeth much good.