Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 4
13A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction— 14for he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who replaces him. 16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is futility and striving after wind.King James Version
Chapter 4
13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 16There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 4
13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings. 14For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him. 16There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.New Living Translation
Chapter 4
13It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice. 14Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison. 15But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him. 16Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless — like chasing the wind.English Standard Version
Chapter 4
13Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. 14For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. 15I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. 16There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.New International Version
Chapter 4
13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. 14The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. 16There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.New King James Version