Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. New Living Translation It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice. English Standard Version Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. Berean Standard Bible Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning. King James Bible Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. New King James Version Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. New American Standard Bible A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction— NASB 1995 A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. NASB 1977 A poor, yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. Legacy Standard Bible A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive warning. Amplified Bible A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction and counsel (friendly reproof, warning)— Christian Standard Bible Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings. Holman Christian Standard Bible Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings. American Standard Version Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more. Contemporary English Version You may be poor and young, but if you are wise, you are better off than a foolish old king who won't listen to advice. English Revised Version Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more. GOD'S WORD® Translation A young man who is poor and wise is better than an old, foolish king who won't take advice any longer. International Standard Version A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who will no longer accept correction. Majority Standard Bible Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning. NET Bible A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice. New Heart English Bible Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn't know how to receive admonition any more. Webster's Bible Translation Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. World English Bible Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBetter is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who has not known to be warned anymore. Young's Literal Translation Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more. Smith's Literal Translation Good a poor and wise child above an old and foolish king, who knew not more to receive instruction. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBetter is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter. Catholic Public Domain Version Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity. New American Bible Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows caution; New Revised Standard Version Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBetter is a youth who is poor and wise than a king who is old and foolish, and does not know how to receive admonition. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Better a boy who is poor and wise than an old King who is foolish and still does not know how to take warning OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more. Brenton Septuagint Translation Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Futility of Power13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning. 14For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.… Cross References Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city. Proverbs 21:11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge. Proverbs 28:6 Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse. Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. Proverbs 15:5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent. 1 Kings 12:1-19 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. / When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he was still in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since. / So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam and said, ... 2 Chronicles 10:1-19 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. / When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he returned from Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. / So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel came to Rehoboam and said, ... Job 32:9 It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice. Psalm 119:99-100 I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. / I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts. Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Matthew 18:3-4 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. / Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Luke 18:17 Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence. James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Treasury of Scripture Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. is a poor Ecclesiastes 9:15,16 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… Genesis 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. will no more be 1 Kings 22:8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: 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 16:9,10 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars… 2 Chronicles 24:20-22 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which 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… Jump to Previous Admonished Admonition Advice Better Child Foolish Guided Instruction Lad Others Poor Receive Warning Wisdom Wise Young YouthJump to Next Admonished Admonition Advice Better Child Foolish Guided Instruction Lad Others Poor Receive Warning Wisdom Wise Young YouthEcclesiastes 4 1. vanity is increased unto men by oppression4. by envy 5. by idleness 7. by covetousness 9. by solitariness 13. by willfulness Better is a poor but wise youth The phrase begins with a comparative statement, emphasizing the value of wisdom over wealth or status. The Hebrew word for "better" (טוֹב, tov) often conveys goodness or moral superiority. This suggests that wisdom, even in poverty, holds greater intrinsic value than material wealth. The "poor but wise youth" symbolizes potential, humility, and the ability to learn and grow. In the ancient Near Eastern context, youth were often undervalued, yet here, the youth's wisdom is exalted above the king's folly. This reflects a biblical theme where God often chooses the humble and lowly to fulfill His purposes, as seen in the accounts of David and Joseph. than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning Poor.--The word occurs again in this book (Ecclesiastes 9:15-16), but not elsewhere in the Old Testament: kindred words occur in Deuteronomy 8:9; Isaiah 40:20. No confidence can be placed in the attempts made to find a definite historical reference in this verse and the next. Verses 13-16. - High place offers no assurance of security. A king's popularity is never permanent; he is supplanted by some clever young aspirant for a time, whose influence in turn soon evaporates, and the subject-people reap no benefit from the change. Verse 13. - Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king. The word translated "child" (yeled), is used sometimes of one beyond childhood (see Genesis 30:26; Genesis 37:30; 1 Kings 12:8), so here it may be rendered "youth." Misken, πενὴς (Septuagint), pauper (Vulgate), "poor," is found also at Ecclesiastes 9:15, 16, and nowhere else; but the root, with an analogous signification, occurs at Deuteronomy 8:9 and Isaiah 40:20. The clause says that a youth who is clever and adroit, though sprung from a sordid origin, is better off than a king who has not learned wisdom with his years, and who, it is afterwards implied, is dethroned by this young man. Who will no more be admonished; better, as in the Revised Version, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more. Age has only fossilized his self-will and obstinacy; and though he was once open to advice and hearkened to reproof, he now bears no contradiction and takes no counsel. Septuagint, Ὅς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ προέχειν ἔτι, "Who knows not how to take heed any longer;" which is perhaps similar to the Vulgate, Qui nescit praevidere in posterum, "Who knows not how to look forward to the future." The words will bear this translation, and it accords with one view of the author's meaning (see below); but that given above is more suitable to the interpretation of the paragraph which approves itself to us. The sentence is of general import, and may be illustrated by a passage from the Book of Wisdom (4. 8, 9), "Honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by length of years. But wisdom is the grey hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age." So Cicero, 'De Senect.,' 18:62, "Non cant nee rugae repente auctoritatem arripere possunt, sod honeste acta superior aetas fructus capit aactoritatis extremes." Some have thought that Solomon is here speaking of himself, avowing his folly and expressing his contrition, in view of his knowledge of Jeroboam's delegation to the kingdom - the crafty youth of poor estate (1 Kings 11:26, etc.), whom the Prophet Ahijah had warned of approaching greatness. But there is nothing in the recorded history of Solomon to make probable such expression of self-abasement, and our author could never have so completely misrepresented him. Here, too, is another proof that Ecclesiastes is not written by Solomon himself.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Betterט֛וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good is a poor מִסְכֵּ֖ן (mis·kên) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 4542: Indigent but wise וְחָכָ֑ם (wə·ḥā·ḵām) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2450: Wise youth יֶ֥לֶד (ye·leḏ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring than an old זָקֵן֙ (zā·qên) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2205: Old but foolish וּכְסִ֔יל (ū·ḵə·sîl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool king מִמֶּ֤לֶךְ (mim·me·leḵ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king who אֲשֶׁ֛ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that no לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no longer עֽוֹד׃ (‘ō·wḏ) Adverb Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more knows יָדַ֥ע (yā·ḏa‘) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3045: To know how to take a warning. לְהִזָּהֵ֖ר (lə·hiz·zā·hêr) Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct Strong's 2094: To gleam, to enlighten Links Ecclesiastes 4:13 NIVEcclesiastes 4:13 NLT Ecclesiastes 4:13 ESV Ecclesiastes 4:13 NASB Ecclesiastes 4:13 KJV Ecclesiastes 4:13 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 4:13 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 4:13 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 4:13 French Bible Ecclesiastes 4:13 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 4:13 Better is a poor and wise youth (Ecclesiast. 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