Translations
Modern
There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.
Traditional
There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
Literal
A city was small, and few men in it; and a great king came against it, and he besieged it and built great siege ramps against it.
Latin
…civitas parva, et pauci in ea viri; venit contra eam rex magnus, et vallavit eam, exstruxitque munitiones per gyrum, et perfecta est obsidio.
Original
Hebrew
English
There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.
Notes
This poor man's wise action was effective. Wisdom is better than power, strength, or weapons (see Ecclesiastes 4:13; 7:9, 19; 10:4). However, deserving people are not always honored, and even wise individuals are sometimes forgotten (see Ecclesiastes 2:16; 4:16).
Glossary
Topics
Bulwark: General Scriptures Concerning Cities: Often Insignificant Ingratitude: Citizens War: Wisdom Required In Wisdom: Spiritual: Unclassified Scriptures Relating to