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 favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
The race (is) not to the swift (for they may be hindered by a slight obstacle). (See 2 Samuel 18:22-23; John 20:4-6; Jeremiah 46:6; spiritually, Zephaniah 3:19; Romans 9:16.)
Nor the battle to the strong - reverting to the sentiment. Ecclesiastes 8:17; we ought, therefore, not only to work God's work 'with might' (Ecclesiastes 9:10) but also with the feeling that the event is wholly 'in God's hand' (Ecclesiastes 9:1). (See 1 Samuel 17:47; 2 Chronicles 14:9; 2 Chronicles 14:11; 2 Chronicles 14:15; 2 Chronicles 20:15; Proverbs 21:30-31; Psalms 33:16.)
Bread - livelihood.
Nor yet favour - of the great: or popularity.
Chance - seemingly, really Providence. But as man cannot 'find it out' (Ecclesiastes 3:11), he needs 'with all might' to use opportunities. Duties are ours; events, God's (Psalms 31:15, "My times are in thy hand") Chance is not a power independent of God; but is that which happens to man independently of his control. If God be our friend, the powers arrayed against us, however formidable they look, cannot destroy us. If it depended on human strength, the people of God could not withstand their foes.