Ecclesiastes 9:11

The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or the favor to the learned; but time and chance happens to them all.

Just love this passage - it gives me inspiration for some reason and I am a layman not very religious at all.

But what does it mean?

To me it means God gives everybody a shot and what you do with it is up to you.

Would like to hear what people think about it.

reply to post by BABYBULL24


the meek shall inherit the earth,

not because they are meek,
but because they choose to be



xploder

Originally posted by BABYBULL24

The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or the favor to the learned; but time and chance happens to them all.

edit on 6-4-2013 by BABYBULL24 because: (no reason given)

As a blank statement without examples it's pretty meaningless. Battle to the strong against a weak foe would be right. However, if the foe is fewer in numbers (making them appear weak) but is intelligent in the art of war will greatly increase their odds of winning.

Food DOES come to the wealthy, but I've known very intelligent people that were financially retarded.

reply to post by BABYBULL24


It makes me think of enantiodromia. Eventually, things become their opposites. Yin becomes yang, wise become fools, swift becomes slow.

Enantiodromia (Greek: ἐνάντιος, enantios, opposite + δρόμος, dromos, running course) is a principle introduced by psychiatrist Carl Jung that the superabundance of any force inevitably produces its opposite. It is similar to the principle of equilibrium in the natural world, in that any extreme is opposed by the system in order to restore balance. However, in Jungian terms, a thing psychically transmogrifies into its Shadow opposite, in the repression of psychic forces that are thereby cathected into something powerful and threatening. This can be anticipated as well in the principles of traditional Chinese religion - as in Taoism and yin-yang.

reply to post by BABYBULL24

It sounds like someone is stacking the deck.

Originally posted by BABYBULL24

The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or the favor to the learned; but time and chance happens to them all.

Just love this passage - it gives me inspiration for some reason and I am a layman not very religious at all.

But what does it mean?

To me it means God gives everybody a shot and what you do with it is up to you.

Would like to hear what people think about it.

edit on 6-4-2013 by BABYBULL24 because: (no reason given)

From my point of view the moment of clarity when god and the disconnected soul say hi to each other again and the minds idea of what is real shifts..

Originally posted by BABYBULL24

The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or the favor to the learned; but time and chance happens to them all.

i think it indicates that cheaters will likley get 'yah, no matter what your skills and abilities may be, but,

as jigger said, the quote needs more to see it in context.

reply to post by tinhattribunal


How can one be a cheater if he invented the game and makes the rules?
Everyone had a choice to sit at the table and play.

Yes and the chapter and verse numbers are interesting considering the sentiments expressed at the end of the verse.
Here is another bible version of that scripture

I saw something else under the sun. The race isn't [won] by fast runners, or the battle by heroes. Wise people don't necessarily have food. Intelligent people don't necessarily have riches, and skilled people don't necessarily receive special treatment.
But time and unpredictable events overtake all of them.

9/11

That bible verse really applies to that day.

reply to post by BABYBULL24

Would like to hear what people think about it.

Lots of negativity in Ecclesiastes toward ambitions, like being strong or fast or wise or learned, since it is like "why bother" when you live and die, so why not just enjoy things while it lasts.
I don't recommend this book. I believe it is anti-Christian and Christians should rather spend their time reading the New Testament.