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Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:1
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:1
English Standard Version
13 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. 14 There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. 15 But there was found in it (A)a poor, wise man, and he by his (B)wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 But I say that (C)wisdom is better than might, though (D)the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.
17 The words of the wise heard in (E)quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18 (F)Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but (G)one sinner destroys much good.
10 Dead flies make (H)the perfumer's ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:1
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:1
New International Version
Wisdom Better Than Folly
13 I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom(A) that greatly impressed me: 14 There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.(B) 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.(C)
17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom(D) is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.
10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly(E) outweighs wisdom and honor.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.