Ecclesiastes 3:19

3:19 For the fate of humans ¹  and the fate of animals are the same:

As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath.

There is no advantage for humans over animals,

for both are fleeting.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

Wisdom Cannot Protect against Seemingly Chance Events

9:11 Again, ²  I observed this on the earth: ³ 

the race is not always ⁴  won by the swiftest,

the battle is not always won by the strongest;

prosperity ⁵  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 ⁶  always come to those with the most knowledge –

for time and chance may overcome ⁷  them all.

[3:19]  ¹ tn Heb “of the sons of man.”

[9:11]  ² tn Heb “I returned and.” In the Hebrew idiom, “to return and do” means “to do again.”

[9:11]  ³ tn Heb “under the sun.”

[9:11]  ⁴ tn The term “always” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation (five times in this verse) for clarity.

[9:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “bread.”

[9:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “favor.”

[9:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “happen to.”