Ecclesiastes 9:15
13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
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.
16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth 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 and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
Read in contextGenesis 40:23
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
Read in contextEsther 6:2–3
And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
Read in context2 Samuel 20:22
Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:16
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
Read in context