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Ecclesiastes 9:15–16

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9:15However, a poor but wise man lived in the city,50

and he could have delivered51 the city by his wisdom,

but no one listened52 to that poor man.

9:16So I concluded that wisdom is better than might,53

but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens54 to his advice.55

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Footnotes

  1. 50 Heb “was found in it”; the referent (the city) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  2. 51 Or “he delivered.” The verb וּמִלַּט (umillat, from מָלַט, malat, “to deliver”) is functioning either in an indicative sense (past definite action: “he delivered”) or in a modal sense (past potential: “he could have delivered”). The literal meaning of זָכַר (zakhar, “to remember”) in the following line harmonizes with the indicative: “but no one remembered that poor man [afterward].” However, the modal is supported by v. 16: “A poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.” This approach must nuance זָכַר (“to remember”) as “[no one] listened to [that poor man].” Most translations favor the indicative approach: “he delivered” or “he saved” (, , , , , , , ); however, some adopt the modal nuance: “he might have saved” (, , margin).
  3. 52 Heb “remembered.”
  4. 53 Or “power.”
  5. 54 The participle form נִשְׁמָעִים (nishma’im, Niphal participle mpl from שָׁמַע, “to listen”) is used verbally to emphasize a continual, durative, gnomic action.
  6. 55 Heb “his words are never listened to.”

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him. 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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Now, a poor wise man was found in it, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor man. So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, yet the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 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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