16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

16 But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

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

16 So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long.

16 I still think wisdom is better than strength. But those people forgot about the poor man’s wisdom and stopped listening to what he said.

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

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

16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength,” even though that poor person’s wisdom was despised, and no one listened to what he said. 

16 And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

16 So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, yet the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.

16 So I said, “It’s better to be wise than to be powerful.” But people looked down on the poor man’s wisdom. No one paid any attention to what he said.

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