Ecclesiastes 9:16

And I said, Wisdom is better than power: yet the wisdom of the poor man is set at nought, and his words not listened to.

Brenton Septuagint

In The King James Version

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

In Context

15and should find in it a poor wise man, and he should save the city through his wisdom: yet no man would remember that poor man.

17The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of them that rule in folly.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 9

Cross References

Proverbs 10:15The wealth of rich men is a strong city; but poverty is the ruin of the ungodly.

Proverbs 24:5A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.

Ecclesiastes 9:18Wisdom is better than weapons of war: and one sinner will destroy much good.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 9:14-18

The Advantages of Wisdom. 13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14 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: 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of… Read the whole commentary →

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Study Ecclesiastes 9:16