Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

New Living Translation

The Futility of Political Power

¹³ It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice. ¹⁴ Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison. ¹⁵ But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth^[a] who replaces him. ¹⁶ Endless crowds stand around him,^[b] but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.