Ecclesiastes 9:16

Translations

Modern

And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

Traditional

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Literal

And I said, “Better is wisdom than might, and the wisdom of the poor one is despised, and his words are not heard.”

Latin

Et dicebam ego meliorem esse sapientiam fortitudine. Quomodo ergo sapientia pauperis contempta est, et verba ejus non sunt audita?

Original

Hebrew

English

And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

Notes

Ecclesiastes 9:13–18

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).

Related verses

Ecclesiastes 7:19
Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.
Proverbs 24:5
A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
Proverbs 21:22
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
Mark 6:2–3
When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?
1 Corinthians 1:26–29
Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.
James 2:2–6
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
Proverbs 10:15
The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
John 7:47–49
“Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees.
Ecclesiastes 9:18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
John 9:24–34
So a second time they called for the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”

Glossary

Book of Ecclesiastes

Topics

Contempt: The Wicked Exhibit Towards: The Poor Ingratitude: Citizens Poor: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To War: Wisdom Required In Wisdom: Spiritual: Unclassified Scriptures Relating to

Ecclesiastes 9:16

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Glossary?

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