Ecclesiastes 9:14-18 ▼

14 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.

15 Now there was found within it a poor, but wise man. He delivered the city by his wisdom, but not one person remembered that poor man.

16 So I concluded, |Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the wisdom of the poor is rejected—his words are never heard.|

17 The softly spoken words of the wise are to be heard rather than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, and a single sinner can destroy a lot of good.