11. I looked again and saw under the sun that the race does not belong to the swift, the battle does not belong to the mighty, food does not belong to the wise, wealth does not belong to the intelligent, and success does not belong to the skillful, for time and chance befalls all of them.
12. For man does not know his time. Just as fish are caught in a cruel net and like birds who are seized in a snare, so also humans are ensnared at a cruel time when it falls suddenly upon them.
13. I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.
14. There was a small city with few people in it. A great king came and besieged it, building great siege works against it.
15. Now, a poor wise man was found in it, and he delivered the city by his wisdom.
16. So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, yet the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.
17. The words of the wise are heard in peace more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among the fools.
18. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.