Ecclesiastes 9:11
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 guaranteed to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to those of understanding, nor favor to those of skill, for time and chance happen to all, and success is not assured by speed, strength, wisdom, understanding, skill, diligence, or ability. The swift may fail to win the race and the strong may fail to win the battle, and those who labor diligently may still fail to prosper. Outcomes do not always follow talent or effort, and do not always match a person's ability.
This does not excuse idleness, nor make idleness wise, nor make effort useless and pointless, for diligent exertion remains necessary and a duty. No one reaches the prize in religious or secular matters without personal exertion, for the hill of progress is not climbed without effort and no one is carried along to success. Slackness of hand, slack work, idleness, and want of diligence lead to poverty and want. Slackness is set against gain, for diligence is associated with gain while idleness and slackness lead toward poverty and want.
Persevering and industrious diligence is ordinarily linked with gain and is the way to secure competency, comfort, and wealth. Faithful industrious labor makes the worker happy himself and contributes largely to the happiness of others. Physical strength is a gift to be used faithfully rather than left idle. Drowsiness and indolence grieve God's Spirit and harm spiritual life, true godliness, and godliness itself.
In the Christian race victory does not depend on natural speed or strength, so even the weakest saint may receive immortal glory, and all can win who through divine grace bring their lives into harmony with Christ's will. In that race the reward corresponds to the energy and earnestness with which a person strives, and the small details of life matter because each act can help or hinder the outcome.