11Again 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 those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

12For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

13I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.

14There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.

15But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

16But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.