Ecclesiastes 8:8

8:8 Just as no one has power over the wind to restrain it, ¹ 

so no one has power over the day of his ²  death.

Just as no one can be discharged during the battle, ³ 

so wickedness cannot rescue the wicked. ⁴ 

Ecclesiastes 9:11

Wisdom Cannot Protect against Seemingly Chance Events

9:11 Again, ⁵  I observed this on the earth: ⁶ 

the race is not always ⁷  won by the swiftest,

the battle is not always won by the strongest;

prosperity ⁸  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 ⁹  always come to those with the most knowledge –

for time and chance may overcome ¹⁰  them all.

[8:8]  ¹ tn Heb “There is not a man who has mastery over the wind to restrain the wind.”

[8:8]  ² tn The word “his” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[8:8]  ³ tn Heb “There is no discharge in war.”

[8:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “its owners.”

[9:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “I returned and.” In the Hebrew idiom, “to return and do” means “to do again.”

[9:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “under the sun.”

[9:11]  ⁷ 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]  ⁸ tn Heb “bread.”

[9:11]  ⁹ tn Heb “favor.”

[9:11]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “happen to.”