Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
Lexham English Bible
One Must Be Willing to Listen to Counsel
13 A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.[a] 14 For he came out of the prison house to reign, since he was born poor in his kingdom.[b] 15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun with the youth; the second who will stand in his place. 16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before him. Yet the later generation will not rejoice in him, for this also is vanity and chasing wind!
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- Ecclesiastes 4:13 Literally “how to be warned”
- Ecclesiastes 4:14 Literally “for all in his kingdom he was born poor”
Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
International Standard Version
There’s No Fool Like an Old Fool
13 A poor but wise youth is better
than an old but foolish king
who will no longer accept correction.
14 The former can come out of prison to reign,
while the latter, even if born to[a] kingship, may become poor.
15 I observed everyone who lives and walks on earth, along with the youth[b] who will take the king’s[c] place. 16 There was no end to all of his subjects[d] or to all of the people who had come before them. But those who come along afterward will not be happy with him. This is also pointless and a chasing after wind.
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- Ecclesiastes 4:14 Lit. to his
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 Lit. second child
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 Lit. take his
- Ecclesiastes 4:16 Lit. of the people
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