Ecclesiastes 9:17

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Jas 3:17-18 : 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. 18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.
  • Gen 41:33-40 : 33 “So now Pharaoh should look for a wise and discerning man and give him authority over all the land of Egypt. 34 Pharaoh should do this– he should appoint officials throughout the land to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. By Pharaoh’s authority they should store up grain so the cities will have food, and they should preserve it. 36 This food should be held in storage for the land in preparation for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout the land of Egypt. In this way the land will survive the famine.” 37 This advice made sense to Pharaoh and all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked his officials,“Can we find a man like Joseph, one in whom the Spirit of God is present?” 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph,“Because God has enabled you to know all this, there is no one as wise and discerning as you are! 40 You will oversee my household, and all my people will submit to your commands. Only I, the king, will be greater than you.
  • 1 Sam 7:3-6 : 3 Samuel said to all the people of Israel,“If you are really turning to the LORD with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth. Give your hearts to the LORD and serve only him. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites removed the Baals and images of Ashtoreth. They served only the LORD. 5 Then Samuel said,“Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.” 6 After they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. They fasted on that day, and they confessed there,“We have sinned against the LORD.”So Samuel led the people of Israel at Mizpah.
  • Prov 28:23 : 23 The one who reproves another will in the end find more favor than the one who flatters with the tongue.
  • Isa 42:2 : 2 He will not cry out or shout; he will not publicize himself in the streets.
  • Isa 42:4 : 4 He will not grow dim or be crushed before establishing justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait in anticipation for his decrees.”
  • Jas 1:20 : 20 For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Eccl 9:15-16
    2 verses
    84%

    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.

  • Eccl 7:4-6
    3 verses
    80%

    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.

    6For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless.

  • Prov 29:11
    78%

    11A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

  • Prov 17:27-28
    2 verses
    78%

    27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.

    28Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.

  • Eccl 9:18
    77%

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

  • Prov 23:9
    77%

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

  • Prov 14:33
    76%

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

  • 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.

  • Prov 12:23
    75%

    23The shrewd person conceals knowledge, but foolish people proclaim folly.

  • Eccl 7:19
    75%

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

  • Prov 29:9
    75%

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

  • Prov 14:24
    75%

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

  • Prov 10:14
    75%

    14Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction.

  • Prov 19:10
    74%

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

  • Prov 24:7
    74%

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

  • Prov 10:8
    74%

    8The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

  • Prov 1:5
    74%

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

  • Prov 29:20
    74%

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

  • Prov 12:15-16
    2 verses
    74%

    15The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.

    16A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent conceals dishonor.

  • Prov 17:10
    73%

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

  • Prov 15:2
    73%

    2The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly.

  • Prov 14:7-8
    2 verses
    73%

    7Walk abreast with a foolish person, and you do not understand wise counsel.

    8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

  • Eccl 10:12
    73%

    12Words and Works of Wise Men and Fools The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.

  • Prov 17:24
    73%

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

  • Prov 13:16
    73%

    16Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

  • Prov 10:19
    72%

    19When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.

  • Prov 19:1
    72%

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

  • Eccl 7:9
    72%

    9Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

  • Eccl 2:13-14
    2 verses
    72%

    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.

  • Prov 14:3
    72%

    3In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them.

  • Prov 18:15
    72%

    15The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge.

  • Prov 15:7
    72%

    7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.

  • Prov 20:3
    72%

    3It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.

  • Prov 15:14
    72%

    14The discerning mind seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

  • Prov 14:29
    72%

    29Someone with great understanding is slow to anger, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly.

  • Job 34:2
    72%

    2“Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you learned men.

  • 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 22:17
    71%

    17The Sayings of the Wise Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my instruction.

  • Prov 17:7
    71%

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

  • Prov 16:14
    71%

    14A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.

  • Eccl 4:6
    71%

    6Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.

  • Prov 14:16
    71%

    16A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.

  • Prov 16:22
    71%

    22Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools.