11. Here's something else I've seen on this earth. Races aren't always won by those who run fast. Battles aren't always won by those who are strong. Wise people don't always have plenty of food. Clever people aren't always wealthy. Those who have learned a lot aren't always favored. God controls the timing of every event. He also controls how things turn out.
12. A man doesn't know when trouble will come to him. Fish are caught in nets. Birds are taken in traps. And people are trapped by hard times that come when they don't expect them.
13. Here's something else I saw on this earth. I saw an example of wisdom that touched me deeply.
14. There was once a small city. Only a few people lived there. A powerful king attacked it. He brought in war machines all around it.
15. A certain man lived in that city. He was poor but wise. He used his wisdom to save the city. But no one remembered that poor man.
16. So I said, "It's better to be wise than to be powerful." But people looked down on the poor man's wisdom. No one paid any attention to what he said.
17. People should listen to the quiet words of those who are wise. That's better than paying attention to the shouts of a ruler of foolish people.