Ecclesiastes 9:11

New Century Version

I also saw something else here on earth: The fastest runner does not always win the race, the strongest soldier does not always win the battle, the wisest does not always have food, the smartest does not always become wealthy, and the talented one does not always receive praise. Time and chance happen to everyone.

Cross References

2 Samuel 17:14

Absalom and all the Israelites said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” (The Lord had planned to destroy the good advice of Ahithophel so the Lord could bring disaster on Absalom.)

2 Samuel 17:23

When Ahithophel saw that the Israelites did not accept his advice, he saddled his donkey and went to his hometown. He left orders for his family and property, and then he hanged himself. He died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

2 Chronicles 20:15

He said, “Listen to me, King Jehoshaphat and all you people living in Judah and Jerusalem. The Lord says this to you: ‘Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of this large army. The battle is not your battle, it is God’s.

Job 34:29

But if God keeps quiet, who can blame him? If he hides his face, who can see him? God still rules over both nations and persons alike.

Psalm 76:5

The brave soldiers were stripped as they lay asleep in death. Not one warrior had the strength to stop it.

Proverbs 1:5

Wise people can also listen and learn; even they can find good advice in these words.

Ecclesiastes 2:12

Then I began to think again about being wise, and also about being foolish and doing crazy things. But after all, what more can anyone do? He can’t do more than what the other king has already done.

Ecclesiastes 3:14

I know that everything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to what God has done, and they cannot take anything away from it. God does it this way to make people respect him.

Ecclesiastes 3:17

I said to myself, God has planned a time for every thing and every action, so he will judge both good people and bad.

Ecclesiastes 4:1

Again I saw all the people who were mistreated here on earth. I saw their tears and that they had no one to comfort them. Cruel people had all the power, and there was no one to comfort those they hurt.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

I realized the reason people work hard and try to succeed: They are jealous of each other. This, too, is useless, like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 7:13

Look at what God has done: No one can straighten what he has bent.

Ecclesiastes 9:2

Good and bad people end up the same— those who are right and those who are wrong, those who are good and those who are evil, those who are clean and those who are unclean, those who sacrifice and those who do not. The same things happen to a good person as happen to a sinner, to a person who makes promises to God and to one who does not.

Ecclesiastes 9:3

This is something wrong that happens here on earth: What happens to one happens to all. So people’s minds are full of evil and foolish thoughts while they live. After that, they join the dead.

Jeremiah 46:6

“The fast runners cannot run away; the strong soldiers cannot escape. They stumble and fall in the north, by the Euphrates River.

Jeremiah 48:14

“You cannot say, ‘We are warriors! We are brave men in battle!’

Jeremiah 9:23

This is what the Lord says: “The wise must not brag about their wisdom. The strong must not brag about their strength. The rich must not brag about their money.

Daniel 4:35

People on earth are not truly important. God does what he wants with the powers of heaven and the people on earth. No one can stop his powerful hand or question what he does.

Zechariah 4:6

Then he told me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘You will not succeed by your own strength or by your own power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord All-Powerful.

Malachi 3:18

You will again see the difference between good and evil people, between those who serve God and those who don’t.

Ephesians 1:11

In Christ we were chosen to be God’s people, because from the very beginning God had decided this in keeping with his plan. And he is the One who makes everything agree with what he decides and wants.

Deuteronomy 8:17

You might say to yourself, “I am rich because of my own power and strength,”

Deuteronomy 8:18

but remember the Lord your God! It is he who gives you the power to become rich, keeping the agreement he promised to your ancestors, as it is today.

1 Samuel 17:50

So David defeated the Philistine with only a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. He did not even have a sword in his hand.

1 Samuel 6:9

Watch the cart. If it goes toward Beth Shemesh in Israel’s own land, the Lord has given us this great sickness. But if it doesn’t, we will know that Israel’s God has not punished us. Our sickness just happened by chance.”