Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
Legacy Standard Bible
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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 9:13 Lit great it was to me
Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
New King James Version
Wisdom Superior to Folly
13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: 14 (A)There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great [a]snares around it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.
16 Then I said:
“Wisdom is better than (B)strength.
Nevertheless (C)the poor man’s wisdom is despised,
And his words are not heard.
17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard
Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war;
But (D)one sinner destroys much good.”
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 9:14 LXX, Syr., Vg. bulwarks
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.