Ecclesiastes 9:17
Good News Translation
It is better to listen to the quiet words of someone wise than to the shouts of a ruler at a council of fools.

New Revised Standard Version
The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

Contemporary English Version
Words of wisdom spoken softly make much more sense than the shouts of a ruler to a crowd of fools.

New American Bible
The quiet words of the wise are better heeded than the shout of a ruler of fools.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the cry of a prince among fools.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the cry of a prince among fools.

Genesis 41:33-40 Now therefore let the king provide a wise and industrious man, and make him ruler over the land of Egypt: . . .

1 Samuel 7:3-6 And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying: If you turn to the Lord with all your heart, put away the strange gods from among you, Baalim and Astaroth: and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. . . .

Proverbs 28:23 He that rebuketh a man, shall afterward find favour with him, more than he that by a flattering tongue deceiveth him.

Isaiah 42:2,4 He shall not cry, nor have respect to person, neither shall his voice be heard abroad. . . .

James 1:20 For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God.

James 3:17,18 But the wisdom that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation. . . .

Context
Wisdom is Better than Strength
16And I said that wisdom is better than strength: how then is the wisdom of the poor man slighted, and his words not heard? 17The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the cry of a prince among fools.18Better is wisdom, than weapons of war: and he that shall offend in one, shall lose many good things.…
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 7:5
It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.

Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.

Ecclesiastes 9:16
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