NET Bible
"Most People Are Not Receptive to Wise Counsel This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:"
— Ecclesiastes 9:13, NET Bible
“This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:”
“I have also seen wisdom under the sun on this wise, and it seemed great unto me: ”
“I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me.”
“This wisdom also I have seen under the sun, and it seemed to me to be very great:”
“This again I have seen under the sun as wisdom and it seemed great to me.”
“This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:”
Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.
Wisdom Cannot Protect against Seemingly Chance Events Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge– for time and chance may overcome them all.
Surely, no one knows his appointed time! Like fish that are caught in a deadly net, and like birds that are caught in a snare– just like them, all people are ensnared at an unfortunate time that falls upon them suddenly.
Most People Are Not Receptive to Wise Counsel This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:
There was once a small city with a few men in it, and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works against it.
However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.
So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.