Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
World Messianic Bible
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 out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
Cross References
1 Kings 22:8The king of Israel said to 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 does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” Jehoshaphat said, “Don’t let the king say so.”
2 Chronicles 24:20The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “God says, ‘Why do you disobey the LORD’s commandments, so that you can’t prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you.’”
Proverbs 19:1Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
Proverbs 28:15As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless 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 →