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13 Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and [a]it was great to me. 14 There (A)was a small city with few men in it, and a great king came to it, surrounded it, and built large siegeworks against it. 15 But there was found in it a (B)poor wise man, and he provided a way of escape for the city (C)by his wisdom. Yet (D)no one remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, “(E)Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The (F)words of the wise heard in restfulness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18 (G)Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but (H)one sinner destroys much good.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 9:13 Lit great it was to me

Wisdom Surpasses Foolishness

13 I also observed this example of[a] wisdom on earth, and it seemed important to me: 14 There was a little city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built massive siege ramps against it. 15 Now there was found within it a poor, but wise man. He delivered the city by his wisdom, but not one person remembered that poor man.

16 So I concluded,[b] “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the wisdom of the poor is rejected—his words are never heard.”

17 The softly spoken words of the wise are to be heard
    rather than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
    and a single sinner can destroy a lot of good.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 9:13 The Heb. lacks example of
  2. Ecclesiastes 9:16 Lit. said