Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
JPS TaNaKH 1917
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 prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor.
Cross References
1 Kings 22:8And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat: 'There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah the son of Imlah; 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 clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he 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 a fool at the same time.
Proverbs 28:15As a roaring lion, and a ravenous bear; so 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 →