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Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
New International Version
16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.(A)
17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom(B) is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.
Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
New American Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
New American Standard Bible
16 So I said, “(A)Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are [a]ignored. 17 The (B)words of the wise heard in calm are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18 (C)Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but (D)one sinner destroys much good.
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- Ecclesiastes 9:16 Lit not listened to
Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
16 (A)Though I had said, “Wisdom is better than force,” yet the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words go unheeded.
17 The quiet words of the wise are better heeded
than the shout of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one bungler destroys much good.
Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one bungler destroys much good.
Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
Good News Translation
Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
Good News Translation
16 I have always said that wisdom is better than strength, but no one thinks of the poor as wise or pays any attention to what they say. 17 It is better to listen to the quiet words of someone wise than to the shouts of a ruler at a council of fools. 18 Wisdom does more good than weapons, but one sinner can undo a lot of good.
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Good News Translation (GNT) 
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.