Ecclesiastes 4:13 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

¹³ Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who will no longer take advice.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹³ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹³ Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive counsel (friendly reproof and warning)–

American Standard Version (1901)

¹³ Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

Common English Bible

¹³ A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king, who no longer listens to advice.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹³ Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹³ Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.

Ecclesiastes 4:13 Cross References

Genesis 37:2

These are the descendants of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.

1 Kings 22:8

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one other by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything favorable about me but only disaster.” Jehoshaphat said, “Let the king not say such a thing.”

2 Chronicles 25:16

But as he was speaking, the king said to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be put to death?” So the prophet stopped but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have not listened to my advice.”

Proverbs 19:1

Better the poor walking in integrity than one perverse of speech who is a fool.

Proverbs 28:6

Better to be poor and walk in integrity than to be crooked in one’s ways even though rich.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 7:19

Wisdom gives strength to the wise more than ten rulers who are in a city.