Ecclesiastes 4:13

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.

Young's Literal Translation

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 the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.

14For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 4

Cross References

1 Kings 22:8And the king of Israel saith unto Jehoshaphat, 'Yet — one man to seek Jehovah by him, and I have hated him, for he doth not prophesy concerning me good, but evil — Micaiah son of Imlah;' and Jehoshaphat saith, 'Let not the king say so.'

2 Chronicles 24:20and the Spirit of God hath clothed Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, and he standeth over-against the people, and saith to them, 'Thus said God, Why are ye transgressing the commands of Jehovah, and prosper not? because ye have forsaken Jehovah — He doth forsake you.'

Proverbs 19:1Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse [in] his lips, who [is] a fool.

Proverbs 28:15A growling lion, and a ranging bear, [Is] the 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 →

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