Ecclesiastes 4:13

Translations

Modern

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

Traditional

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Literal

Better a youth poor and wise than a king old and foolish, who does not know to be warned anymore.

Latin

Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidere in posterum.

Original

Hebrew

English

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

Notes

Ecclesiastes 4:13–14

Better is a...wise youth: Wisdom is valuable because it helps in real-life situations.

Ecclesiastes 3:16–5:7

This section discusses various topics, such as justice, humans and animals, oppression, moderation, companionship, politics, and worship.

Related verses

Proverbs 19:1
Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
2 Chronicles 25:16
While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”
2 Chronicles 16:9–10
For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
Proverbs 28:15–16
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
1 Kings 22:8
The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
Proverbs 28:6
Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
Genesis 37:2
This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
Ecclesiastes 9:15–16
Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
2 Chronicles 24:20–22
Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’”

Glossary

Age Book of Ecclesiastes

Topics

Children: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Poor: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Rulers: Wicked

Ecclesiastes 4:13

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