Ecclesiastes 9:11

Discouragement and depression God's will and calling Wisdom

⁹ Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

¹⁰ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

¹² For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared 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:

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.
KJV: I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
WEB: I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
ASV: I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
DARBY: I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to the intelligent, nor yet favour to men of knowledge; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
BLB: I returned and saw under the sun how the race [is] not to the swift, and the battle not to the strong, and bread not to the wise, and wealth not to the discerning, and favor not to the skillful. For time and chance will happen to them all.

ÅB: Fremdeles så jeg under solen at det ikke er visst at de som er lette på foten, vinner i løpet, eller at heltene seirer i krigen, eller at de vise kan få seg brød, eller at de forstandige kan vinne rikdom eller de kloke finne yndest; for tid og hendelse møter dem alle.
OTB: Jeg observerte igjen under solen at løpet ikke er til de raske, heller ikke kampen til de sterke, heller ikke kommer brød til de vise, eller rikdom til de kloke, eller gunst til de dyktige; men tid og tilfeldighet overgår dem alle.
B1930: Fremdeles så jeg under solen at det ikke er visst at de som er lette på foten, vinner i løpet, eller at heltene seirer i krigen, eller at de vise kan få sig brød, eller at de forstandige kan vinne rikdom eller de kloke finne yndest; for tid og hendelse møter dem alle.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 9:23
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
Read in context
Proverbs 21:30–31
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Read in context
Lamentations 3:37–38
Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
Read in context
Job 5:11–14
To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 3:17
I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 3:14
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
Read in context
Amos 2:14–16
Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:
Read in context
Psalms 147:10–11
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
Read in context