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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ecclesiastes 9:11 Catholic Bible: I realized another thing, that in this world fast runners do not always win the races, and the brave do not always win the battles. The wise do not always earn a living, intelligent people do not always get rich, and capable people do not always rise to high positions. Bad luck happens to everyone. </title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/catholic/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/15002new8.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcc/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/catholic/">Bible</a> > <a href="/gntd/ecclesiastes/1.htm">Ecclesiastes</a> > <a href="/gntd/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Chapter 9</a> > Verse 11</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ecclesiastes/9-10.htm" title="Ecclesiastes 9:10">◄</a> Ecclesiastes 9:11 <a href="../ecclesiastes/9-12.htm" title="Ecclesiastes 9:12">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/nabre/ecclesiastes/9.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#552200" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gntd/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />I realized another thing, that in this world fast runners do not always win the races, and the brave do not always win the battles. The wise do not always earn a living, intelligent people do not always get rich, and capable people do not always rise to high positions. Bad luck happens to everyone. <p><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ecclesiastes/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<p><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cevd/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Here is something else I have learned: The fastest runners and the greatest heroes don't always win races and battles. Wisdom, intelligence, and skill don't always make you healthy, rich, or popular. We each have our own share of misfortune. <p><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ecclesiastes/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Again I saw under the sun that the race is not won by the swift, nor the battle by the valiant, nor a livelihood by the wise, nor riches by the shrewd, nor favor by the experts; for a time of misfortune comes to all alike.<p><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drbc/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />I turned me to another thing, and 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 learned, nor favour to the skilful: but time and chance in all.<div class="vheading2">Treasury of Scripture Knowledge</div><p class="tsk2">I turned me to another thing, and 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 learned, nor favour to the skilful: but time and chance in all.</p><p class="hdg">returned</p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../ecclesiastes/2-12.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:12</a> I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I that he can follow the King his maker?)</p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../ecclesiastes/4-1.htm">Ecclesiastes 4:1,4</a> I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any. . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../malachi/3-18.htm">Malachi 3:18</a> And you shall return, and shall see the difference between the just and the wicked: and between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.</p><p class="hdg">that the race</p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../1_samuel/17-50.htm">1 Samuel 17:50</a> And David prevailed over the Philistine, with a sling and a stone, and he struck, and slew the Philistine. And as David had no sword in his hand,</p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../2_samuel/2-18.htm">2 Samuel 2:18-23</a> And there were the three sons of Sarvia there, Joab, and Abisai, and Asael: now Asael was a most swift runner, like one of the roes that abide in the woods. . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../2_samuel/17-14.htm">2 Samuel 17:14,23</a> And Absalom, and all the men of Israel said: The counsel of Chusai the Arachite is better than the counsel of Achitophel: and by the will of the Lord the profitable counsel of Achitophel was defeated, that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom. . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../psalms/33-16.htm">Psalm 33:16,17</a> The king is not saved by a great army: nor shall the giant be saved by his own great strength. . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../psalms/73-6.htm">Psalm 73:6,7</a> Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness. . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../psalms/147-10.htm">Psalm 147:10,11</a> He shall not delight in the strength of the horse: nor take pleasure in the legs of a man. . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../jeremiah/9-23.htm">Jeremiah 9:23</a> Thus saith the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, and let not the strong man glory in his strength, and let not the rich man glory in his riches:</p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../jeremiah/46-6.htm">Jeremiah 46:6</a> Let not the swift flee away, nor the strong think to escape: they are overthrown, and fallen down, towards the north by the river Euphrates.</p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../amos/2-14.htm">Amos 2:14-16</a> And flight shall perish from the swift, and the valiant shall not possess his strength, neither shall the strong save his life. . . . </p><p class="hdg">but</p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../ecclesiastes/2-14.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:14,15</a> The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike. . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../ecclesiastes/3-14.htm">Ecclesiastes 3:14-17</a> I have learned that all the works which God hath made, continue for ever: we cannot add any thing, nor take away from those things which God hath made that he may be feared. . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../ecclesiastes/7-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:13</a> Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.</p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../1_samuel/2-3.htm">1 Samuel 2:3-10</a> Do not multiply to speak lofty things, boasting: let old matters depart from your mouth: for the Lord is a God of all knowledge, and to him are thoughts prepared. . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../job/5-11.htm">Job 5:11-14</a> Who setteth up the humble on high, and comforteth with health those that mourn. . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../job/34-29.htm">Job 34:29</a> For when he granteth peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hideth his countenance, who is there that can behold him, whether it regard nations, or all men?</p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../proverbs/21-30.htm">Proverbs 21:30,31</a> There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel against the Lord. . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../lamentations/3-37.htm">Lamentations 3:37,38</a> Mem. Who is he that hath commanded a thing to be done, when the Lord commandeth it not? . . . </p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../daniel/4-35.htm">Daniel 4:35</a> 0</p><p class="tskverse"><a href="../ephesians/1-11.htm">Ephesians 1:11</a> In whom we also are called by lot, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his will.</p></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/drbc/ecclesiastes/9.htm">Enjoy Your Portion in This Life</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">10</span>Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, do it earnestly: for neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge shall be in hell, whither thou art hastening. <span class="reftext">11</span><span class="highl">I turned me to another thing, and 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 learned, nor favour to the skilful: but time and chance in all.</span><span class="reftext">12</span>Man knoweth not his own end: but as fishes are taken with the hook, and as birds are caught with the snare, so men are taken in the evil time, when it shall suddenly come upon them.…<div class="vheading2">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="../deuteronomy/8-17.htm">Deuteronomy 8:17</a></span><br />Lest thou shouldst say in thy heart: My own might, and the strength of my own hand have achieved all these things for me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="../deuteronomy/8-18.htm">Deuteronomy 8:18</a></span><br />But remember the Lord thy God, that he hath given thee strength, that he might fulfil his covenant, concerning which he swore to thy fathers, as this present day sheweth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="../1_samuel/6-9.htm">1 Samuel 6:9</a></span><br />And you shall look: and if it go up by the way of his own coasts, towards Bethsames, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, we shall know that it is not his hand hath touched us, but it hath happened by chance.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="../2_chronicles/20-15.htm">2 Chronicles 20:15</a></span><br />And he said: Attend ye, all Juda, and you that dwell in Jerusalem, and thou king Josaphat: Thus saith the Lord to you: Fear ye not, and be not dismayed at this multitude: for the battle is not yours, but God's.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="../psalms/76-5.htm">Psalm 76:5</a></span><br />All the foolish of heart were troubled. They have slept their sleep; and all the men of riches have found nothing in their hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="../proverbs/1-5.htm">Proverbs 1:5</a></span><br />He shall understand a parable and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="../ecclesiastes/9-2.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:2</a></span><br />But all things are kept uncertain for the time to come, because all things equally happen to the just and to the wicked, to the good and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him that offereth victims, and to him that despiseth sacrifices. As the good is, so also is the sinner: as the perjured, so he also that sweareth truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="../jeremiah/9-23.htm">Jeremiah 9:23</a></span><br />Thus saith the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, and let not the strong man glory in his strength, and let not the rich man glory in his riches:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="../amos/2-14.htm">Amos 2:14</a></span><br />And flight shall perish from the swift, and the valiant shall not possess his strength, neither shall the strong save his life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="../amos/2-15.htm">Amos 2:15</a></span><br />And he that holdeth the bow shall not stand, and the swift of foot shall not escape, neither shall the rider of the horse save his life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="../zechariah/4-6.htm">Zechariah 4:6</a></span><br />And he answered, and spoke to me, saying: This is the word of the Lord to Zorobabel, saying: Not with an army, nor by might, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span></div></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><div class="vheading2">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/8-8.htm">Battle</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-7.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-18.htm">Chance</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-30.htm">Favor</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-30.htm">Favour</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/8-14.htm">Happeneth</a> <a href="/psalms/19-5.htm">Race</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/6-2.htm">Riches</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/4-4.htm">Skill</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-17.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-9.htm">Sun</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-18.htm">Swift</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-8.htm">Time</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-7.htm">Understanding</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-1.htm">Wise</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/songs/3-8.htm">Battle</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-19.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-5.htm">Chance</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-12.htm">Favor</a> <a href="/songs/8-10.htm">Favour</a> <a href="/psalms/91-10.htm">Happeneth</a> <a href="/nahum/2-4.htm">Race</a> <a href="/songs/8-7.htm">Riches</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-10.htm">Skill</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-3.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-13.htm">Sun</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-1.htm">Swift</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-12.htm">Time</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-2.htm">Understanding</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-13.htm">Wise</a><div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/niv/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:11 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:11 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:11 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:11 NASB</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:11 Bible Apps</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:11 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:11 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:11 French Bible</a><br /><a href="//bibeltext.com/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:11 German Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span>Alphabetical: ability again all and battle bread brilliant but chance come discerning does else favor food for happen have I is learned men neither nor not of or overtake race saw seen something strong sun swift that the them time to under warriors wealth wise<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm">OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools</a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="/catholic/">Catholic Bible</a><br /><br /><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../ecclesiastes/9-10.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 9:10"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 9:10" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../ecclesiastes/9-12.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 9:12"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 9:12" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#f7f7f7"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="8261988112"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table><br /><br /></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>