Ecclesiastes 9:11

For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.

Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

For she didn’t know that I gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil, and multiplied to her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.

but because Yahweh loves you, and because he desires to keep the oath which he swore to your fathers, Yahweh has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.

It shall happen, because you listen to these ordinances and keep and do them, that Yahweh your God will keep with you the covenant and the loving kindness which he swore to your fathers.

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,

Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to battle:

You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air,

Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,

and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.

But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases.

Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

“Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

The counsel of Yahweh stands fast forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!”

That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day nor night. You who call on Yahweh, take no rest,

Yahweh says, “Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom. Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might. Don’t let the rich man glory in his riches.

Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon! Make the watch strong! Set the watchmen, and prepare the ambushes; for Yahweh has both purposed and done that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.

I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

holding up the word of life, that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain.

to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you,

I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.

May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”

When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’

In those days Hezekiah was sick and dying. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Set your house in order; for you will die, and not live.’ ”

For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?

I lift up my eyes to you, you who sit in the heavens.

If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say,

When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream.

Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

Then he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he will stumble and fall, and won’t be found.

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.

He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself.

according to the eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yahweh himself is who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged.”

Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

Whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

Yes, since the day was, I am he. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who can hinder it?”

The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, they both fall together.”

When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, arose, and went home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.

and he said, “Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, king Jehoshaphat. Yahweh says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Unless Yahweh builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.

I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly; for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.

The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.

I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.

I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?

“Don’t let the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape. In the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen.

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can stop his hand, or ask him, “What are you doing?”

Flight will perish from the swift; and the strong won’t strengthen his force; neither shall the mighty deliver himself;

By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win.

We were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will,

But you shall remember Yahweh your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is today.

Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron. (The name of Hebron before that was Kiriath Arba.) They struck Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

Yahweh was with Judah, and drove out the inhabitants of the hill country; for he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness; for no man will prevail by strength.

Behold, if it goes up by the way of its own border to Beth Shemesh, then he has done us this great evil; but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us. It was a chance that happened to us.”

The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.

Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.

These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Don’t let him who puts on his armor brag like he who takes it off.’ ”

They each killed his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.

The children of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and went against them. The children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of young goats; but the Syrians filled the country.

As he was telling the king how he had restored to life him who was dead, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, begged the king for her house and for her land. Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.”

These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

But if you will go, take action, and be strong for the battle. God will overthrow you before the enemy; for God has power to help, and to overthrow.”

When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,

Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”

A horse is a vain thing for safety, neither does he deliver any by his great power.

He doesn’t delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with Yahweh.

Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall;

“How do you say, ‘We are mighty men, and valiant men for the war?’

by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten yourself riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures;

You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.

Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn’t serve him.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me.