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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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Footnotes

  1. 4:15 Hebrew the second youth.
  2. 4:16 Hebrew There is no end to all the people, to all those who are before them.

13 It is better to be a poor but wise youth than to be an old and foolish king who refuses all advice. 14 Such a lad could come from prison and succeed. He might even become king though born in poverty. 15 Everyone is eager to help a youth like that, even to help him usurp the throne. 16 He can become the leader of millions of people and be very popular. But, then, the younger generation grows up around him and rejects him! So again, it is all foolishness, chasing the wind.

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