Ecclesiastes 9:16

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 7:19 : 19 Wisdom Needed Because No One is Truly Righteous Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.
  • Prov 21:22 : 22 A wise man went up against the city of the mighty and brought down the stronghold in which they trust.
  • Prov 24:5 : 5 A wise warrior is strong, and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;
  • Mark 6:2-3 : 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished, saying,“Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” And so they took offense at him.
  • John 7:47-49 : 47 Then the Pharisees answered,“You haven’t been deceived too, have you? 48 None of the members of the ruling council or the Pharisees have believed in him, have they? 49 But this rabble who do not know the law are accursed!”
  • Eccl 9:18 : 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.
  • Prov 10:15 : 15 The wealth of a rich person is like a fortified city, but the poor are brought to ruin by their poverty.
  • John 9:24-34 : 24 Then they summoned the man who used to be blind a second time and said to him,“Promise before God to tell the truth. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied,“I do not know whether he is a sinner. I do know one thing– that although I was blind, now I can see.” 26 Then they said to him,“What did he do to you? How did he cause you to see?” 27 He answered,“I told you already and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You people don’t want to become his disciples too, do you?” 28 They heaped insults on him, saying,“You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses! We do not know where this man comes from!” 30 The man replied,“This is a remarkable thing, that you don’t know where he comes from, and yet he caused me to see! 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is devout and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never before has anyone heard of someone causing a man born blind to see. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They replied,“You were born completely in sinfulness, and yet you presume to teach us?” So they threw him out.
  • 1 Cor 1:26-29 : 26 Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. 27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, 29 so that no one can boast in his presence.
  • Jas 2:2-6 : 2 For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes, 3 do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say,“You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person,“You stand over there,” or“Sit on the floor”? 4 If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?

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%

    13Most 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:

    14There 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.

    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.

  • Eccl 9:17-18
    2 verses
    84%

    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.

    18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

  • Prov 28:11
    77%

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

  • Eccl 6:8
    77%

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

  • Eccl 4:13
    76%

    13Labor 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.

  • Eccl 7:19
    76%

    19Wisdom Needed Because No One is Truly Righteous Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.

  • Prov 10:15
    75%

    15The wealth of a rich person is like a fortified city, but the poor are brought to ruin by their poverty.

  • Prov 19:1
    74%

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

  • Eccl 2:13-16
    4 verses
    74%

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

    14The 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.

    15So 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!”

    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!

  • Job 32:9
    74%

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

  • Prov 13:8
    74%

    8The ransom of a person’s life is his wealth, thus the poor person has never heard a threat.

  • Prov 16:16
    73%

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

  • Prov 23:9
    73%

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

  • Eccl 7:5
    73%

    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 12:8-9
    2 verses
    73%

    8A person will be praised in accordance with his wisdom, but the one with a bewildered mind will be despised.

    9Better is a person of humble standing who works for himself, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food.

  • Prov 8:11
    72%

    11For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be compared to her.

  • Prov 17:16
    72%

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

  • Jer 8:9
    72%

    9Your wise men will be put to shame. They will be dumbfounded and be brought to judgment. Since they have rejected the LORD’s message, what wisdom do they really have?

  • Job 17:10
    72%

    10Anticipation of Death“But turn, all of you, and come now! I will not find a wise man among you.

  • Prov 28:6
    72%

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

  • Jer 9:23
    72%

    23The 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.

  • Prov 21:13
    72%

    13The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and will not be answered.

  • Prov 29:9
    72%

    9When a wise person goes to court with a foolish person, there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.

  • Eccl 1:16
    72%

    16Futility of Secular Wisdom I thought to myself,“I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.”

  • Prov 11:12
    72%

    12The one who denounces his neighbor lacks sense, but a discerning person keeps silent.

  • Prov 1:20
    71%

    20Warning Against Disregarding Wisdom Wisdom calls out in the street, she shouts loudly in the plazas;

  • Prov 14:24
    71%

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

  • Prov 14:33
    71%

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

  • Job 34:34
    71%

    34Men of understanding say to me– any wise man listening to me says–

  • Job 28:12
    71%

    12No Price Can Buy Wisdom“But wisdom– where can it be found? Where is the place of understanding?

  • Prov 1:5
    71%

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

  • Job 34:16
    71%

    16God Is Impartial and Omniscient“If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say.

  • Eccl 10:6
    71%

    6Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.

  • Job 32:13
    71%

    13So do not say,‘We have found wisdom! God will refute him, not man!’

  • Eccl 10:3
    71%

    3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.

  • Prov 24:7
    71%

    7Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth.

  • Prov 8:14
    71%

    14Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; I possess understanding and might.

  • Job 29:11
    71%

    11Job’s Benevolence“As soon as the ear heard these things, it blessed me, and when the eye saw them, it bore witness to me,

  • Prov 26:12
    71%

    12You have seen a man wise in his own opinion– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

  • Prov 21:22
    71%

    22A wise man went up against the city of the mighty and brought down the stronghold in which they trust.

  • Eccl 7:11
    71%

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

  • Prov 24:5
    70%

    5A wise warrior is strong, and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;

  • Job 36:19
    70%

    19Would your wealth sustain you, so that you would not be in distress, even all your mighty efforts?