¹⁴ And flight will be impossible for the quick-footed, and the force of the strong will become feeble, and the man of war will not get away safely:

²³ This is the word of the Lord: Let not the wise man take pride in his wisdom, or the strong man in his strength, or the man of wealth in his wealth:

¹⁶ A king's salvation is not in the power of his army; a strong man does not get free by his great strength.

¹¹ And again I saw under the sun that the reward goes not to him who is quick, or the fruits of war to the strong; and there is no bread for the wise, or wealth for men of learning, or respect for those who have knowledge; but time and chance come to all.

¹ I saw the Lord stationed by the side of the altar, giving blows to the tops of the pillars so that the doorsteps were shaking: and he said, I will let all of them be broken with earth-shocks; I will put the last of them to the sword: if any one of them goes in flight he will not get away, not one of them will be safe.

² Even if they go deep into the underworld, my hand will take them up from there; if they go up to heaven, I will get them down:

³ Though they take cover on the top of Carmel, I will go in search of them and get them out; though they keep themselves from my eyes in the bed of the sea, I will give orders to the great snake there and he will give them a bite:

²⁰ But the eyes of the evil-doers will be wasting away; their way of flight is gone, and their only hope is the taking of their last breath.

¹⁶ Saying, No, for we will go in flight on horses; so you will certainly go in flight: and, We will go on the backs of quick-running beasts; so those who go after you will be quick-footed.

¹⁷ A thousand will go in fear before one; even before five you will go in flight: till you are like a pillar by itself on the top of a mountain, and like a flag on a hill.