Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 9
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. 16So I said, 'Wisdom is better than strength.' But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are ignored. 17The words of the wise heard in calm are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.King James Version
Chapter 9
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. 16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 9
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. 16And I said, "Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded."New Living Translation
Chapter 9
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. 16So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long.English Standard Version
Chapter 9
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. 16But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.New International Version
Chapter 9
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. 16So I said, 'Wisdom is better than strength.' But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.New King James Version