Ecclesiastes 9:16
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.””
A short, plain-language explanation of Ecclesiastes 9:16 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
“And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.””
Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)“Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.”
King James Version · Public Domain“Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.”
American Standard Version · Public Domain“And I said, `Better <FI>is<Fi> wisdom than might, and the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.' --”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Ecclesiastes 9:16 — 11 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 10:15The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
- Proverbs 21:22A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
- Proverbs 24:5A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
- Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.
- Ecclesiastes 9:18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
- Ecclesiastes 10:10If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
- Mark 6:2When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?
- John 7:47“Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees.
- John 9:24So a second time they called for the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:26Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.
- James 2:2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).