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13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who will no longer take advice.(A) 14 One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom.(B) 15 I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that[a] youth who replaced the king;[b] 16 there was no end to all those people whom he led.[c] Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.15 Heb the second
  2. 4.15 Heb him
  3. 4.16 Heb who were before them

13 A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king, who no longer listens to advice. 14 He emerged from prison to become king, even though during his rule a poor child[a] is born. 15 I saw all who live and walk under the sun following the next youth who would rise to take his place. 16 There was no counting the number of people he ruled, but those who came later aren’t happy with him. This too is pointless and a chasing after wind.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 4:14 Possibly the youth of 4:13; or He emerged from prison to become king, even though he was born poor in the kingdom.