Ecclesiastes 4:13
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.

is a poor

Ecclesiastes 9:15,16 Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man. . . .

Genesis 37:2 And these are his generations: Joseph, when he was sixteen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, being but a boy: and he was with the sons of Bala and of Zelpha his father's wives: and he accused his brethren to his father of a most wicked crime.

Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a rich man that is perverse in his lips and unwise.

Proverbs 28:6,15,16 Better is the poor man walking in his simplicity, than the rich in crooked ways. . . .

will no more be

1 Kings 22:8 And the king of Israel said to Josaphat. There is one man left, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; Micheas, the son of Jemla: but I hate him, for he doth not prophecy good to me, but evil. And Josaphat said: Speak not so, O king.

2 Chronicles 16:9,10 For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore thou hast done foolishly, and for this cause from this time wars shall arise against thee. . . .

2 Chronicles 24:20-22 The spirit of God then came upon Zacharias the son of Joiada the priest, and he stood in the sight of the people, and said to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Why transgress you the commandment of the Lord which will not be for your good, and have forsaken the Lord, to make him forsake you? . . .

2 Chronicles 25:16 And when he spoke these things, he answered him: Art thou the king's counsellor? be quiet, lest I kill thee. And the prophet departing, said: I know that God is minded to kill thee, because thou hast done this evil, and moreover hast not hearkened to my counsel.

Context
The Futility of Power
13Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.14Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.…
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 4:12
And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.

Ecclesiastes 7:19
Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.

Ecclesiastes 9:15
Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man.

Lexicon
Better
ט֛וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

is a poor
מִסְכֵּ֖ן (mis·kên)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 4542: Indigent

but wise
וְחָכָ֑ם (wə·ḥā·ḵām)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2450: Wise

youth
יֶ֥לֶד (ye·leḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring

than an old
זָקֵן֙ (zā·qên)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2205: Old

but foolish
וּכְסִ֔יל (ū·ḵə·sîl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool

king
מִמֶּ֤לֶךְ (mim·me·leḵ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 4428: A king

who
אֲשֶׁ֛ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's Hebrew 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

no
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's Hebrew 3808: Not, no

longer
עֽוֹד׃ (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's Hebrew 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

knows
יָדַ֥ע (yā·ḏa‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3045: To know

how to take a warning.
לְהִזָּהֵ֖ר (lə·hiz·zā·hêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's Hebrew 2094: To gleam, to enlighten


Additional Translations
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn't know how to receive admonition any more.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.
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