Ecclesiastes 4:13
New Revised Standard Version
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice.

Contemporary English Version
You may be poor and young, but if you are wise, you are better off than a foolish old king who won't listen to advice.

New American Bible
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows caution;

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

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.…
Cross References
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.

Ecclesiastes 4:12
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