Ecclesiastes 9:14 There 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.

◄ Ecclesiastes 9:14 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
There 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.

English Standard Version
There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.

New American Standard Bible
There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it.

King James Bible
There 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:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There was a small city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege works against it.

International Standard Version
There was a little city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built massive siege ramps against it.

American Standard Version
There 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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
A little city, and few men in it: there came against it a great king, and invested it, and built bulwarks round about it, and the siege was perfect.

Darby Bible Translation
There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and encompassed it, and built great bulwarks against it:

Young's Literal Translation
A little city, and few men in it, and a great king hath come unto it, and hath surrounded it, and hath built against it great bulwarks;

Cross References

Luke 19:43
For the days shall come on you, that your enemies shall cast a trench about you, and compass you round, and keep you in on every side,

Deuteronomy 20:20
Only the trees which you know that they be not trees for meat, you shall destroy and cut them down; and you shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you, until it be subdued.

2 Samuel 20:16
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, to Joab, Come near here, that I may speak with you.

Ecclesiastes 9:13
This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me:

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

9:13-18 A man may, by his wisdom, bring to pass that which he could never do by his strength. If God be for us, who can be against us, or stand before us? Solomon observes the power of wisdom, though it may labour under outward disadvantages. How forcible are right words! But wise and good men must often content themselves with the satisfaction of having done good, or, at least, endeavoured to do it, when they cannot do the good they would, nor have the praise they should. How many of the good gifts, both of nature and Providence, does one sinner destroy and make waste! He who destroys his own soul destroys much good. One sinner may draw many into his destroying ways. See who are the friends and enemies of a kingdom or a family, if one saint does much good, and one sinner destroys much good.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

14, 15. (2Sa 20:16-22).

bulwarks—military works of besiegers.