Ecclesiastes 4:13

Better is a poor and wise child 1 Than an old and foolish king, 1 Who knows not how to take heed any longer. 1

Updated Brenton Septuagint

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 one should prevail against him, 1 The two shall withstand him; 1 And a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken. 1

14For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, 1 Because he also that was in his kingdom has become poor. 1

Read all of Ecclesiastes 4

Cross References

1 Kings 22:8And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is one man here for us to inquire of the Lord by; but I hate him, for he does not speak good of me, but only evil; Micaiah son of Imlah. And Jehoshaphat king of Judah said, Let not the king say so.

2 Chronicles 24:20And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood up above the people, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Why do ye transgress the commandments of the Lord? so shall ye not prosper; for ye have forsaken the Lord, and he will forsake you.

Proverbs 28:15A hungry lion and a thirsty wolf is he, 1 Who, being poor, rules over a poor nation. 1

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 →

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Study Ecclesiastes 4:13