Ecclesiastes 9:12-15
New American Standard Bible
13This too I saw as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me:
14there was a small city with few men in it, and a great king came to it, surrounded it, and constructed large siegeworks against it.
15But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
King James Version
13This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
14There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
15Now 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.
Christian Standard Bible
13I have observed that this also is wisdom under the sun, and it is significant to me:
14There was a small city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege works against it.
15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
New Living Translation
13Here is another bit of wisdom that has impressed me as I have watched the way our world works.
14There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it.
15A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him.
English Standard Version
13I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.
14There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.
15But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
New International Version
13I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me:
14There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it.
15Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.
New King James Version
13This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me:
14There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it.
15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.