Ecclesiastes 9:11

God's Word

I saw something else under the sun. The race isn’t ⌞won⌟ by fast runners, or the battle by heroes. Wise people don’t necessarily have food. Intelligent people don’t necessarily have riches, and skilled people don’t necessarily receive special treatment. But time and unpredictable events overtake all of them.

Cross References

2 Samuel 17:14

Absalom and all the people of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai from Archi’s family is better than Ahithophel’s advice.” (The Lord had commanded Ahithophel’s good advice to be defeated in order to ruin Absalom.)

2 Samuel 17:23

When Ahithophel saw that his advice hadn’t been followed, he saddled his donkey, left, and went home to his own city. He gave instructions to his family. Then he hanged himself, died, and was buried in his father’s tomb.

2 Chronicles 20:15

Jahaziel said, “Pay attention to me, everyone from Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says to you: Don’t be frightened or terrified by this large crowd. The battle isn’t yours. It’s God’s.

Job 34:29

If he keeps quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him whether it is a nation or a single person?

Psalm 76:5

Brave people were robbed. They died. None of the warriors were able to lift a hand.

Proverbs 1:5

a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction—

Ecclesiastes 2:12

Then I turned ⌞my attention⌟ to experience wisdom, madness, and foolishness. For instance, what can the man who replaces the king do? Only what has already been done.

Ecclesiastes 3:14

I realize that whatever God does will last forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken away from it. God does this so that people will fear him.

Ecclesiastes 3:17

I thought to myself, “God will judge righteous people as well as wicked people, because there is a specific time for every activity and every work that is done.”

Ecclesiastes 4:1

Next, I turned to look at all the acts of oppression that make people suffer under the sun. Look at the tears of those who suffer! No one can comfort them. Their oppressors have ⌞all⌟ the power. No one can comfort those who suffer.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I saw that all hard work and skillful effort come from rivalry. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

Ecclesiastes 7:13

Consider what God has done! Who can straighten what God has bent?

Ecclesiastes 9:2

Everything turns out the same way for everyone. All people will share the same destiny, whether they are righteous, wicked, or good, clean or unclean, whether they offer sacrifices or don’t offer sacrifices. Good people are treated like sinners. People who take oaths are treated like those who are afraid to take oaths.

Ecclesiastes 9:3

This is the tragedy of everything that happens under the sun: Everyone shares the same destiny. Moreover, the hearts of mortals are full of evil. Madness is in their hearts while they are still alive. After that, they join the dead.

Jeremiah 46:6

“The infantry can’t flee. The warriors can’t escape. They stumble and fall in the north by the Euphrates River.

Jeremiah 48:14

“How can you say, ‘We are soldiers and warriors’?

Jeremiah 9:23

This is what the Lord says: Don’t let wise people brag about their wisdom. Don’t let strong people brag about their strength. Don’t let rich people brag about their riches.

Daniel 4:35

Everyone who lives on earth is nothing compared to him. He does whatever he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who live on earth. There is no one who can oppose him or ask him, “What are you doing?”

Zechariah 4:6

Then he replied, “This is the word the Lord spoke to Zerubbabel: You won’t ⌞succeed⌟ by might or by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Armies.

Malachi 3:18

Then you will again see the difference between righteous people and wicked people, between the one who serves God and the one who doesn’t serve him.

Ephesians 1:11

God also decided ahead of time to choose us through Christ according to his plan, which makes everything work the way he intends.

Deuteronomy 8:17

You may say to yourselves, “I became wealthy because of my own ability and strength.”

Deuteronomy 8:18

But remember the Lord your God is the one who makes you wealthy. He’s confirming the promise  which he swore to your ancestors. It’s still in effect today.

1 Samuel 17:50

So using ⌞only⌟ a sling and a stone, David proved to be stronger than the Philistine. David struck down and killed the Philistine, even though David didn’t have a sword in his hand.

1 Samuel 6:9

but then watch where it goes. If it goes up the road to its own country toward Beth Shemesh, then this disaster is the Lord’s doing. But if not, we’ll know it wasn’t his hand that struck us, but what happened to us was an accident.”