Ecclesiastes 4:13
Cross References

Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.

Ecclesiastes 4:12
And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.

Ecclesiastes 7:19
Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.

Ecclesiastes 9:15
Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.

is a poor

Ecclesiastes 9:15,16 Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man. . . .

Genesis 37:2 And these are his generations: Joseph, when he was sixteen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, being but a boy: and he was with the sons of Bala and of Zelpha his father's wives: and he accused his brethren to his father of a most wicked crime.

Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a rich man that is perverse in his lips and unwise.

Proverbs 28:6,15,16 Better is the poor man walking in his simplicity, than the rich in crooked ways. . . .

will no more be

1 Kings 22:8 And the king of Israel said to Josaphat. There is one man left, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; Micheas, the son of Jemla: but I hate him, for he doth not prophecy good to me, but evil. And Josaphat said: Speak not so, O king.

2 Chronicles 16:9,10 For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore thou hast done foolishly, and for this cause from this time wars shall arise against thee. . . .

2 Chronicles 24:20-22 The spirit of God then came upon Zacharias the son of Joiada the priest, and he stood in the sight of the people, and said to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Why transgress you the commandment of the Lord which will not be for your good, and have forsaken the Lord, to make him forsake you? . . .

2 Chronicles 25:16 And when he spoke these things, he answered him: Art thou the king's counsellor? be quiet, lest I kill thee. And the prophet departing, said: I know that God is minded to kill thee, because thou hast done this evil, and moreover hast not hearkened to my counsel.

Context
The Futility of Power
13Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.14Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.…
Lexicon
Better
ט֛וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

is a poor
מִסְכֵּ֖ן (mis·kên)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 4542: Indigent

but wise
וְחָכָ֑ם (wə·ḥā·ḵām)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2450: Wise

youth
יֶ֥לֶד (ye·leḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring

than an old
זָקֵן֙ (zā·qên)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2205: Old

but foolish
וּכְסִ֔יל (ū·ḵə·sîl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool

king
מִמֶּ֤לֶךְ (mim·me·leḵ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 4428: A king

who
אֲשֶׁ֛ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's Hebrew 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

no
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's Hebrew 3808: Not, no

longer
עֽוֹד׃ (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's Hebrew 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

knows
יָדַ֥ע (yā·ḏa‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3045: To know

how to take a warning.
לְהִזָּהֵ֖ר (lə·hiz·zā·hêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's Hebrew 2094: To gleam, to enlighten


Additional Translations
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn't know how to receive admonition any more.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.
Jump to Previous
Admonished Admonition Advice Better Child Foolish Guided Instruction Lad Others Poor Receive Warning Wisdom Wise Young Youth
Jump to Next
Admonished Admonition Advice Better Child Foolish Guided Instruction Lad Others Poor Receive Warning Wisdom Wise Young Youth
Links
Ecclesiastes 4:13 NIV
Ecclesiastes 4:13 NLT
Ecclesiastes 4:13 ESV
Ecclesiastes 4:13 NASB
Ecclesiastes 4:13 KJV

Ecclesiastes 4:13 Bible Apps
Ecclesiastes 4:13 Biblia Paralela
Ecclesiastes 4:13 Chinese Bible
Ecclesiastes 4:13 French Bible
Ecclesiastes 4:13 German Bible

Alphabetical: a an and Better but foolish how instruction is king knows lad longer no old poor receive take than to warning who wise yet youth

OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 4:13 Better is a poor and wise youth (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

Ecclesiastes 4:12
Top of Page
Top of Page