Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
King James Version
In Context
12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
Cross References
1 Kings 22:8And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. 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, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
Proverbs 19:1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Proverbs 28:15As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler 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 →