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Ecclesiastes 4:13

WisdomYouthPride

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

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

14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
KJV
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
WEB
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
ASV
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
DARBY
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.
BLB
Better a youth poor and wise than a king old and foolish, who does not know to be warned anymore.
ÅB
Bedre å være en fattig og vis ungdom enn en gammel dåre av en konge, som ikke mere har forstand nok til å la seg advare;
OTB
Bedre er en fattig men klok ungdom enn en gammel og tåpelig konge som ikke lenger vet hvordan man tar imot råd.
B1930
Bedre å være en fattig og vis ungdom enn en gammel dåre av en konge, som ikke mere har forstand nok til å la sig advare;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 19:1

    Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

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  • 2 Chronicles 25:16

    And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

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  • 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.

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  • Proverbs 28:15–16

    As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

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  • 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 enquire 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.

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  • Proverbs 28:6

    Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

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  • 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.

    Read in context

  • 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.

    Read in context