Ecclesiastes 9:16

New American Bible - revised edition

Though I had said, “Wisdom is better than force,” yet the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words go unheeded.

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The wealth of the rich is their strong city; the ruin of the poor is their poverty.

The wise person storms the city of the mighty, and overthrows the stronghold in which they trust.

The wise are more powerful than the strong, and the learned, than the mighty,

Mine are counsel and advice; Mine is strength; I am understanding.

If the ax becomes dull, and the blade is not sharpened, then effort must be increased. But the advantage of wisdom is success.

For the protection of wisdom is as the protection of money; and knowledge is profitable because wisdom gives life to those who possess it.

Wisdom is a better defense for the wise than ten princes in the city,

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