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Ecclesiastes 4:13

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

KJV

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

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Commentary

3 voices

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Original language & word study

12 tagged words
OriginalTransliterationMeaningWord study
ט֛וֹבTov[is] goodH2896 →
יֶ֥לֶדYe.leda youthH3206 →
מִסְכֵּ֖ןmis.KenpoorH4542 →
וְחָכָ֑םve.cha.Khamand wiseH2450 →
מִמֶּ֤לֶךְmi.Me.lekhmore than a kingH4428 →
זָקֵן֙za.KenoldH2205 →
וּכְסִ֔ילu.khe.Siland a foolH3684 →
אֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherwhoH834 →
לֹא־lo'-notH3808 →
יָדַ֥עya.Da'he knowsH3045 →
לְהִזָּהֵ֖רle.hi.za.Herto be warnedH2094 →
עֽוֹד׃odstillH5750 →

The walk

Related verses

16 strongest cross-references

The gold bar shows how strongly the cross-reference sources tie the two verses together: a long bar means many compiled references make the connection, a short one means few.

Job 32:9It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice.Ecclesiastes 9:15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.2 Chronicles 25:16While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”Proverbs 19:1Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.Proverbs 12:15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.Proverbs 17:2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.Proverbs 28:15–16Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.2 Chronicles 16:9–10For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”1 Kings 22:8The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man who can ask the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.Ecclesiastes 9:15–16Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.Proverbs 28:6Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.Genesis 37:2This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them.2 Chronicles 30:2For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month,2 Chronicles 34:1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.2 Chronicles 24:20–22Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’”

About Ecclesiastes

King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
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