Wisdom Better Than Strength

Chapter 9 starts with trust: the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God. The Preacher sees that one event comes to all under the sun, both the righteous and the wicked. Yet he values life: For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Verse 10 calls for wholehearted living: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. Life is unpredictable: I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

The chapter ends with a parable. There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it. Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools. In the New Testament, Paul writes, And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23).