Ecclesiastes 9:16 “And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poo…”

Ecclesiastes 9:16

And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

World English Bible

Then I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

American Standard Version

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then said I, Better is wisdome then strength: yet the wisedome of the poore is despised, and his wordes are not heard.

Darby Translation

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength; but the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Young's Literal Translation

And I said, 'Better [is] wisdom than might, and the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.' —

Bible in Basic English

Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength, but the poor man's wisdom is not respected, and his words are not given a hearing.

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“Wisdom”

Ecclesiastes 7:19 Proverbs 24:5 Proverbs 21:22 Ecclesiastes 9:18

Ecclesiastes 7:19 · BSB

Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.

Proverbs 24:5 · BSB

A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.

Proverbs 21:22 · BSB

A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.

Ecclesiastes 9:18 · BSB

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

“the poor”

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 James 2:2–6 Proverbs 10:15 John 7:47–49 John 9:24–34 Mark 6:2

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 · BSB

Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.

James 2:2–6 · BSB

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

Proverbs 10:15 · BSB

The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

John 7:47–49 · BSB

“Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees.

John 9:24–34 · BSB

So a second time they called for the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”

Mark 6:2 · BSB

When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such mir…

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

17The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.

Read Ecclesiastes 9