Ecclesiastes 9:18
It's better to have wisdom than weapons of war; but a sinner can destroy a lot of good.
Free Bible Version
In The King James Version
Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
In Context
17It's better to listen to the calm words of a wise person than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
Cross References
Joshua 7:5The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, chasing the Israelites from the town gate until they were defeated, killing them on their way down. At this the Israelites became afraid, losing all their courage.
Joshua 22:20When Achan, son of Zerah, acted disloyally in taking consecrated things, didn't the whole of Israel suffer punishment? He wasn't the only one who died because of his sin!’”
1 Samuel 14:30It would have been so much better if only the army had eaten plenty today from the plunder taken from their enemies! How many more Philistines would have been killed?”
2 Samuel 20:1A rabble-rouser called Sheba, son of Bichri, from the tribe of Benjamin, happened to be there. He blew the ram's horn and shouted: “We have no interest in David, no commitment to Jesse's son. Israelites, let's all go home!”
Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.
Ecclesiastes 10:1Dead flies can make perfumed oil smell bad. Likewise a little foolishness outweighs great wisdom and honor.
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 →