Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. New Living Translation Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king. English Standard Version The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Berean Standard Bible The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools. King James Bible The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. New King James Version Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. New American Standard Bible The words of the wise heard in calm are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. NASB 1995 The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. NASB 1977 The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Legacy Standard Bible The words of the wise heard in restfulness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Amplified Bible The words of wise men heard in quietness are better than the shouting of one who rules among fools. Christian Standard Bible The calm words of the wise are heeded more than the shouts of a ruler over fools. Holman Christian Standard Bible The calm words of the wise are heeded more than the shouts of a ruler over fools. American Standard Version The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Aramaic Bible in Plain English Words of the wise in quiet are heeded more so than the shout of a prince who is a fool Brenton Septuagint Translation The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of them that rule in folly. Contemporary English Version Words of wisdom spoken softly make much more sense than the shouts of a ruler to a crowd of fools. Douay-Rheims Bible The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the cry of a prince among fools. English Revised Version The words of the wise spoken in quiet are heard more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. GOD'S WORD® Translation One should pay more attention to calm words from wise people than shouting from a ruler of fools. 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. International Standard Version The softly spoken words of the wise are to be heard rather than the shouts of a ruler of fools. JPS Tanakh 1917 The words of the wise spoken in quiet Are more acceptable than the cry of a ruler among fools. Literal Standard Version The words of the wise are heard in quiet, | More than the cry of a ruler over fools. Majority Standard Bible The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools. New American Bible The quiet words of the wise are better heeded than the shout of a ruler of fools. NET Bible The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among fools. New Revised Standard Version The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools. New Heart English Bible The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools. Webster's Bible Translation The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. World English Bible The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools. Young's Literal Translation The words of the wise in quiet are heard, More than the cry of a ruler over fools. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Wisdom is Better than Strength…16And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.” 17The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.… Cross References Ecclesiastes 7:5 It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. Ecclesiastes 10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. Treasury of Scripture The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that rules among fools. Genesis 41:33-40 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt… 1 Samuel 7:3-6 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, 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 afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. Jump to Previous Acceptable Better Cry Ear Fools Heard Heeded Noted Quiet Quietly Quietness Ruler Rules Ruleth Shouting Shouts Wise WordsJump to Next Acceptable Better Cry Ear Fools Heard Heeded Noted Quiet Quietly Quietness Ruler Rules Ruleth Shouting Shouts Wise WordsEcclesiastes 9 1. like things happen to good and bad4. there is a necessity of death unto men 7. Comfort is all their portion in this life 11. God's providence rules over all 13. wisdom is better than strength Verses 17, 18. - Section 10. Here follow some proverbial sayings concerning wisdom and its opposite, which draw the moral from the story in the text. Verse 17. - The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. This verse would be better translated, Words of the wise in quiet are heard better than the shout of a chief among fools. The Vulgate takes the tranquility to appertain to the hearers, thus: Verbs sapientium audiuntur in silentio; but, as Delitzsch points out, the contrast between "quiet" and "cry" shows that it is the man, and not his auditors, who is quiet. The sentence says that a wise man's words, uttered calmly, deliberately, without pompous declamation or adventitious aids, are of more value than the blustering vociferation of an arch-fool, who seeks to force acceptance for his folly by loudness and swagger (comp. Isaiah 30:15; and see Isaiah 42:2 and Matthew 12:19, passages which speak of the peacefulness, reticence, and unobtrusiveness of true wisdom, as seen in the Son of God). The verse introduces a kind of exception to the general rejection of wisdom mentioned above. Though the multitude turn a deaf ear to a wise man's counsel, yet this tells in the long run, and there are always some teachable persons-who sit at his feet and learn from him. "He that ruleth among fools" is not one that governs a silly people, but one who is a prince of fools, who takes the highest place among such. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The calmבְּנַ֖חַת (bə·na·ḥaṯ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5183: A descent, imposition, unfavorable, favorable, restfulness words דִּבְרֵ֣י (diḇ·rê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause of the wise חֲכָמִ֔ים (ḥă·ḵā·mîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2450: Wise are heeded נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים (niš·mā·‘îm) Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently over the shouts מִזַּעֲקַ֥ת (miz·za·‘ă·qaṯ) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 2201: A shriek, outcry of a ruler מוֹשֵׁ֖ל (mō·wō·šêl) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 4910: To rule, have dominion, reign among fools. בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃ (bak·kə·sî·lîm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool Links Ecclesiastes 9:17 NIVEcclesiastes 9:17 NLT Ecclesiastes 9:17 ESV Ecclesiastes 9:17 NASB Ecclesiastes 9:17 KJV Ecclesiastes 9:17 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 9:17 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 9:17 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 9:17 French Bible Ecclesiastes 9:17 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 9:17 The words of the wise heard (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) |