Ecclesiastes 9:16 - Revised Standard Version (RSV-CI)

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

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

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

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Common English Bible

¹⁶ So I thought, Wisdom is better than might, but the wisdom of commoners is despised and their words aren’t heeded.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁶ And so, I declared that wisdom is better than strength. But how is it, then, that the wisdom of the poor man is treated with contempt, and his words are not heeded?

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹⁶ And I said that wisdom is better than strength: how then is the wisdom of the poor man slighted, and his words not heard?

Ecclesiastes 9:16 Cross References

Proverbs 10:15

A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

Proverbs 21:22

A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

Proverbs 24:5

A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge than he who has strength;

Proverbs 8:14

I have counsel and sound wisdom, I have insight, I have strength.

Ecclesiastes 10:10

If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, he must put forth more strength; but wisdom helps one to succeed.

Ecclesiastes 7:12

For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money; and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

Ecclesiastes 7:19

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

Ecclesiastes 9:18

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