Ecclesiastes 9:16

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

So I said, 'Wisdom is better than strength.' But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

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

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

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

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    Then said{H559} I, Wisdom{H2451} is better{H2896} than strength:{H1369} nevertheless the poor man's{H4542} wisdom{H2451} is despised,{H959} and his words{H1697} are not heard.{H8085}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    Then said{H559}{(H8804)} I, Wisdom{H2451} is better{H2896} than strength{H1369}: nevertheless the poor man's{H4542} wisdom{H2451} is despised{H959}{(H8803)}, and his words{H1697} are not heard{H8085}{(H8737)}.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Then sayde I: wy?dome is better then strength. Neuertheles, a symple mans wy?dome is despysed, & his wordes are not herde.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

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

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Then sayd I, wysdome is better then strength: Neuerthelesse, a simple mans wysdome is despised, and his wordes are not hearde.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

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

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

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

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

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

  • American Standard Version (1901)

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

  • American Standard Version (1901)

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

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    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.

  • World English Bible (2000)

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

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 7:19 : 19 Wisdom makes a wise person stronger than ten rulers in a city.
  • Prov 21:22 : 22 A wise person ascends the city of warriors and brings down the fortress in which they trust.
  • Prov 24:5 : 5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
  • Mark 6:2-3 : 2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed. They said, 'Where did this man get these things? What is this wisdom that has been given to Him? What remarkable miracles are being done through His hands! 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us?' And they took offense at Him.
  • John 7:47-49 : 47 The Pharisees replied to them, 'Have you also been deceived?' 48 Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.
  • Eccl 9:18 : 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
  • Prov 10:15 : 15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
  • John 9:24-34 : 24 A second time, they called for the man who had been blind and told him, 'Give glory to God! We know this man is a sinner.' 25 He answered, 'Whether He is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!' 26 Then they asked him, 'What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?' 27 He replied, 'I already told you, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?' 28 They ridiculed him and said, 'You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses!' 29 'We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.' 30 The man answered, 'This is remarkable! You do not know where He is from, yet He opened my eyes!' 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to them. 32 Never before in history has it been heard that someone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He would not be able to do anything. 34 They answered him, 'You were born entirely in sin, and you are teaching us?' And they threw him out.
  • 1 Cor 1:26-29 : 26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 So that no one may boast before him.
  • Jas 2:2-6 : 2 Suppose a man with gold rings and dressed in fine clothes enters your assembly, and a poor man in filthy clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the one wearing fine clothing and say, 'Here is a good seat for you,' but tell the poor man, 'You stand there,' or 'Sit here by my footstool,' 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you and drag you into court?

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 9:13-15
    3 verses
    87%

    13 I also saw this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.

    14 There was a small city with a few men in it, and a great king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siegeworks around it.

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

  • Eccl 9:17-18
    2 verses
    84%

    17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler among fools.

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

  • Prov 28:11
    77%

    11 A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with understanding will see right through him.

  • Eccl 6:8
    77%

    8 What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?

  • Eccl 4:13
    76%

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

  • Eccl 7:19
    76%

    19 Wisdom makes a wise person stronger than ten rulers in a city.

  • Prov 10:15
    75%

    15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

  • Prov 19:1
    74%

    1 Better to be poor and walk in integrity than to be a fool with twisted lips.

  • Eccl 2:13-16
    4 verses
    74%

    13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.

    14 The wise have eyes in their heads, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate overtakes them both.

    15 Then I said in my heart, 'What happens to the fool will also happen to me. So why have I been so very wise?' And I concluded in my heart, 'This too is meaningless.'

    16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be remembered forever; in the days to come, everything will be forgotten. How does the wise person die? Just like the fool!

  • Job 32:9
    74%

    9 It is not merely the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.

  • Prov 13:8
    74%

    8 A person's wealth may ransom their life, but the poor hear no threat.

  • Prov 16:16
    73%

    16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to gain understanding rather than silver!

  • Prov 23:9
    73%

    9 Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.

  • Eccl 7:5
    73%

    5 It is better to hear the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.

  • Prov 12:8-9
    2 verses
    73%

    8 A person is praised according to their insight, but one with a twisted mind is despised.

    9 Better to be lowly and have a servant than to act important and have no food.

  • Prov 8:11
    72%

    11 For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

  • Prov 17:16
    72%

    16 Why should a fool pay for wisdom when he has no intention of understanding it?

  • Jer 8:9
    72%

    9 The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?

  • Job 17:10
    72%

    10 But as for all of you, return and come now, for I do not find a wise man among you.

  • Prov 28:6
    72%

    6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in his ways and rich.

  • Jer 9:23
    72%

    23 But let the one who boasts boast in this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight, declares the Lord.

  • Prov 21:13
    72%

    13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.

  • Prov 29:9
    72%

    9 When a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether he rages or laughs, there is no peace.

  • Eccl 1:16
    72%

    16 I said to myself, 'Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled Jerusalem before me. I have experienced much wisdom and knowledge.'

  • Prov 11:12
    72%

    12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

  • Prov 1:20
    71%

    20 Wisdom cries aloud in the streets; in the public squares, she raises her voice.

  • Prov 14:24
    71%

    24 The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields only folly.

  • Prov 14:33
    71%

    33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning, but it becomes known even among fools.

  • Job 34:34
    71%

    34 Men of understanding declare, and the wise man who hears me says:

  • Job 28:12
    71%

    12 But where can wisdom be found, and where is the place of understanding?

  • Prov 1:5
    71%

    5 Let the wise hear and increase their learning, and the one who understands gain guidance,

  • Job 34:16
    71%

    16 If you have understanding, listen to this; pay attention to the sound of my words.

  • Eccl 10:6
    71%

    6 Foolishness is set in high places, while the rich sit in lowly positions.

  • Job 32:13
    71%

    13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not a man, refute him.’

  • Eccl 10:3
    71%

    3 Even while walking along the road, the fool lacks sense and shows everyone how foolish he is.

  • Prov 24:7
    71%

    7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.

  • Prov 8:14
    71%

    14 Counsel and wisdom belong to me; I have understanding and strength.

  • Job 29:11
    71%

    11 For when the ear heard me, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw me, it gave testimony about me.

  • Prov 26:12
    71%

    12 Do you see a person who is wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

  • Prov 21:22
    71%

    22 A wise person ascends the city of warriors and brings down the fortress in which they trust.

  • Eccl 7:11
    71%

    11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and it is an advantage for those who see the light of day.

  • Prov 24:5
    70%

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

  • Job 36:19
    70%

    19 Will your cry for help set things in order in distress, or will your exertions of strength suffice?