Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.
Darby Translation
In The King James Version
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
In Context
14For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom.
Cross References
1 Kings 22:8And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah; but I hate him, for he prophesies no good concerning me, but evil: [it is] Micah the son of Imlah. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
2 Chronicles 24:20And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood up above the people and said unto them, Thus saith God: Wherefore do ye transgress the commandments of Jehovah? And ye cannot prosper; for ye have forsaken Jehovah, and he hath forsaken you.
Proverbs 19:1Better is a poor [man] that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Proverbs 28:15A roaring lion, and a ranging bear, is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 4:8-13
The Vanity of Human Wishes. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is… Read the whole commentary →