What happensPermalink
The Preacher observes that the righteous and the wicked experience the same kinds of events, so outward circumstances do not reveal God’s favor. Death comes to everyone, and the dead no longer participate in life or work under the sun. The living should therefore receive food, drink, marriage, and work with joy as gifts from God. Earthly outcomes remain unpredictable: the swift, strong, wise, and skillful do not always prosper. The chapter ends with a poor wise man who saves a city but is soon forgotten.
Why it mattersPermalink
Life’s opportunities are temporary. Wisdom exceeds strength, yet cannot guarantee success, recognition, or justice. “Time and chance” describes life as humans experience it; God’s providence remains hidden from human prediction. The wise therefore enjoy His daily gifts and labor faithfully without expecting outcomes to follow merit or ability. One sinner can destroy much good that wisdom has accomplished.
Key versePermalink
Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.