Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.
Douay-Rheims 1899
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
12And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.
Cross References
1 Kings 22:8And the king of Israel said to Josaphat: There is one man left, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: Micheas the son of Jemla; but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good to me, but evil. And Josaphat said: Speak not so, O king.
2 Chronicles 24:20The spirit of God then came upon Zacharias the son of Joiada the priest, and he stood in the sight of the people, and said to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Why transgress you the commandment of the Lord which will not be for your good, and have forsaken the Lord, to make him forsake you?
Proverbs 19:1Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a rich man that is perverse in his lips, and unwise.
Proverbs 28:15As a roaring lion, and a hungry bear, so is a wicked prince over the 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 →