Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
Holman Christian Standard Bible
13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings.(A) 14 For he came from prison to be king,(B) even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow[a] a second youth who succeeds him. 16 There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.(C)
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- Ecclesiastes 4:15 Lit with
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.
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