Ecclesiastes 9:15
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.
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Referenced Verses
- Eccl 4:13 : 13 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.
- Gen 40:23 : 23 But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph– he forgot him.
- 2 Sam 20:22 : 22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice and they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it out to Joab. Joab blew the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each going to his own home. Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.
- Esth 6:2-3 : 2 it was found written that Mordecai had disclosed that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus. 3 The king asked,“What great honor was bestowed on Mordecai because of this?” The king’s attendants who served him responded,“Not a thing was done for him.”
- Eccl 2:16 : 16 For 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!
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Eccl 9:16-183 verses87%
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.
17 Wisdom 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.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.
- Eccl 9:13-142 verses82%
13 Most People Are Not Receptive to Wise Counsel This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:
14 There was once a small city with a few men in it, and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works against it.
- 74%
11 A rich person is wise in his own opinion, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.
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19 Wisdom Needed Because No One is Truly Righteous Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.
- Eccl 2:14-163 verses73%
14 The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.
15 So I thought to myself,“The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?” So I lamented to myself,“The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!”
16 For 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!
- 72%
15 The wealth of a rich person is like a fortified city, but the poor are brought to ruin by their poverty.
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8 So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?
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13 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.
- Prov 13:7-82 verses71%
7 There is one who pretends to be rich and yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor and yet possesses great wealth.
8 The ransom of a person’s life is his wealth, thus the poor person has never heard a threat.
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10 Anticipation of Death“But turn, all of you, and come now! I will not find a wise man among you.
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22 A wise man went up against the city of the mighty and brought down the stronghold in which they trust.
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9 Concluding Epilogue: Qoheleth’s Advice is Wise Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs.
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1 For the music director; a psalm of David. How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly! When trouble comes, may the LORD deliver him.
- Prov 29:7-93 verses69%
7 The righteous person cares for the legal rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such knowledge.
8 Scornful people inflame a city, but those who are wise turn away wrath.
9 When a wise person goes to court with a foolish person, there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.
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21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!
- Job 28:12-132 verses68%
12 No Price Can Buy Wisdom“But wisdom– where can it be found? Where is the place of understanding?
13 Mankind does not know its place; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
- 68%
1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.
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9 It is not the aged who are wise, nor old men who understand what is right.
- Prov 12:8-92 verses68%
8 A person will be praised in accordance with his wisdom, but the one with a bewildered mind will be despised.
9 Better is a person of humble standing who works for himself, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food.
- 68%
17 then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.
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12 A shrewd person saw danger–he hid himself; the naive passed right on by– they had to pay for it.
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13 Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom Blessed is the one who has found wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding.
- 67%
11 Wisdom Cannot Protect against Seemingly Chance Events Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge– for time and chance may overcome them all.
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3 A shrewd person saw danger and hid himself, but the naive passed on by and paid for it.
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33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; it is not known in the inner parts of fools.
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1 Human Government Demonstrates Limitations of Wisdom Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.
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15 So he saves from the sword that comes from their mouth, even the poor from the hand of the powerful.
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5 (Let the wise also hear and gain instruction, and let the discerning acquire guidance!)
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8 The one who acquires understanding loves himself; the one who preserves understanding will prosper.
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12 The one who denounces his neighbor lacks sense, but a discerning person keeps silent.
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23 The LORD says,“Wise people should not boast that they are wise. Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful. Rich people should not boast that they are rich.
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9 So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:
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10 Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.
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1 Everyone Will Die So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead.
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15 The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.
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5 A wise warrior is strong, and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;
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13 So do not say,‘We have found wisdom! God will refute him, not man!’
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5 She said to the king,“The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight was true!
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23 All the kings of the earth wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom.
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16 I was a father to the needy, and I investigated the case of the person I did not know;