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

17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded

than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

but one sinner destroys much good.

16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

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.

17 Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person

than the shouts of a foolish king.

18 Better to have wisdom than weapons of war,

but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

16 Then I said:

“Wisdom is better than strength.

Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised,

And his words are not heard.

17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard

Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war;

But one sinner destroys much good.”

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.

17 The quiet words of a wise person are better

than the shouts of a foolish ruler.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

but one sinner can destroy much good.

16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.

16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength; but the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.

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. 

17 One should pay more attention to calm words from wise people than shouting from a ruler of fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good. 

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

17 The calm words of the wise are heeded

more than the shouts of a ruler over fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

but one sinner can destroy much good.

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

17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded

than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

but one bungler destroys much good.

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

17 The words of the wise are heard in peace

more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among the fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

but one sinner destroys much good.

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.

17 People should listen to the quiet words

of those who are wise.

That’s better than paying attention to the shouts

of a ruler of foolish people.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war.

But one sinner destroys a lot of good.

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

17 The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.