Ecclesiastes 9:16

Good News TranslationOther versions

English

¹⁶I have always said that wisdom is better than strength, but no one thinks of the poor as wise or pays any attention to what they say.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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