Ecclesiastes 9:15

13 I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:

14 There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.

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

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

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

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
KJV
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.
WEB
Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
ASV
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.
DARBY
and there was found in it a poor wise man, who by his wisdom delivered the city; but no man remembered that poor man.
BLB
And there was found in it a poor wise man, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. And mankind has not remembered that poor man.
ÅB
men det fantes i byen en fattig, vis mann, og han berget den ved sin visdom, og ikke et menneske var kommet denne fattige mann i hu.
OTB
I den bodde en fattig, men vis mann, og han reddet byen ved sin visdom. Likevel husket ingen den fattige mannen.
B1930
men det fantes i byen en fattig, vis mann, og han berget den ved sin visdom, og ikke et menneske var kommet denne fattige mann i hu.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 40:23

    The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot all about him.

    Read in context
  • Esther 6:2–3

    And there it was found recorded that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 20:22

    Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

    Read in context
  • Ecclesiastes 2:16

    For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!

    Read in context