Ecclesiastes 4:13

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Labor Motivated by Prestige-Seeking A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 9:15-16 : 15 However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man. 16 So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.
  • Gen 37:2 : 2 This is the account of Jacob.Joseph, his seventeen-year-old son, was taking care of the flocks with his brothers. Now he was a youngster working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.
  • 1 Kgs 22:8 : 8 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat,“There is still one man through whom we can seek the LORD’s will. But I despise him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” Jehoshaphat said,“The king should not say such things.”
  • 2 Chr 16:9-9 : 9 Certainly the LORD watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war.” 10 Asa was so angry at the prophet, he put him in jail. Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time.
  • 2 Chr 24:20-22 : 20 God’s Spirit energized Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said to them,“This is what God says:‘Why are you violating the commands of the LORD? You will not be prosperous! Because you have rejected the LORD, he has rejected you!’” 21 They plotted against him and by royal decree stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD’s temple. 22 King Joash disregarded the loyalty his father Jehoiada had shown him and killed Jehoiada’s son. As Zechariah was dying, he said,“May the LORD take notice and seek vengeance!”
  • 2 Chr 25:16 : 16 While he was speaking, Amaziah said to him,“Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop prophesying or else you will be killed!” So the prophet stopped, but added,“I know that God has decided to destroy you, because you have done this thing and refused to listen to my advice.”
  • Prov 19:1 : 1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.
  • Prov 28:6 : 6 A poor person who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.
  • Prov 28:15-16 : 15 Like a roaring lion or a roving bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people. 16 The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom, but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 4:14-15
    2 verses
    80%

    14For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom.

    15I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place.

  • Eccl 9:15-17
    3 verses
    76%

    15However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.

    16So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.

    17Wisdom versus Fools, Sin, and Folly The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among fools.

  • Prov 19:1
    76%

    1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

  • Eccl 7:4-5
    2 verses
    76%

    4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.

    5Frivolous Living Versus Wisdom It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools.

  • Prov 15:20-21
    2 verses
    75%

    20A wise child brings joy to his father, but a foolish person despises his mother.

    21Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, but one who has understanding follows an upright course.

  • Prov 17:24-25
    2 verses
    75%

    24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

    25A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

  • Prov 15:5
    75%

    5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense.

  • Prov 10:1
    74%

    1The First Collection of Solomonic Proverbs The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother.

  • Prov 22:15
    74%

    15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

  • Prov 29:15
    74%

    15A rod and reproof impart wisdom, but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.

  • Prov 28:6-7
    2 verses
    74%

    6A poor person who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.

    7The one who keeps the law is a discerning child, but a companion of gluttons brings shame to his parents.

  • Prov 17:6-7
    2 verses
    74%

    6Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.

    7Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!

  • Prov 13:1
    74%

    1A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, but a scoffer has never listened to rebuke.

  • Eccl 10:16
    73%

    16The Problem with Foolish Rulers Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning!

  • Prov 17:2
    73%

    2A servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.

  • Eccl 4:3
    73%

    3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

  • Prov 19:10
    73%

    10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes!

  • Prov 14:24
    73%

    24The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is folly.

  • Prov 16:16
    73%

    16How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.

  • Prov 17:21
    73%

    21Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.

  • Eccl 7:10-11
    2 verses
    72%

    10Do not say,“Why were the old days better than these days?” for it is not wise to ask that.

    11Wisdom Can Lengthen One’s Life Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.

  • Prov 29:20
    72%

    20You have seen someone who is hasty in his words– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

  • Prov 22:6
    72%

    6Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

  • Prov 1:5
    72%

    5(Let the wise also hear and gain instruction, and let the discerning acquire guidance!)

  • Eccl 6:8
    72%

    8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

  • Prov 3:13
    72%

    13Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom Blessed is the one who has found wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding.

  • Prov 14:33
    72%

    33Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; it is not known in the inner parts of fools.

  • Prov 23:24
    72%

    24The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him.

  • Isa 3:4
    72%

    4The LORD says,“I will make youths their officials; malicious young men will rule over them.

  • Prov 14:18
    71%

    18The naive have inherited folly, but the shrewd will be crowned with knowledge.

  • Prov 28:11
    71%

    11A rich person is wise in his own opinion, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.

  • Prov 4:1
    71%

    1Admonition to Follow Righteousness and Avoid Wickedness Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.

  • Prov 27:11
    71%

    11Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.

  • Prov 30:22
    71%

    22under a servant who becomes king, under a fool who becomes stuffed with food,

  • Prov 17:10
    71%

    10A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool.

  • Prov 17:16
    71%

    16What’s the point of a fool having money in hand to buy wisdom, when his head is empty?

  • Eccl 2:13
    71%

    13I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:

  • Job 32:9
    71%

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

  • Eccl 2:16
    71%

    16For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies– just like the fool!

  • Prov 19:13
    71%

    13A foolish child is the ruin of his father, and a contentious wife is like a constant dripping.

  • Prov 13:18
    71%

    18The one who neglects discipline ends up in poverty and shame, but the one who accepts reproof is honored.