Ecclesiastes 4 · Verse 13

Ecclesiastes 4:13

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
Ecclesiastes 4:13, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 4:13 in other translations

BSBBetter is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
WEBBetter is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
ASVBetter is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
YLTBetter is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.
DARBYBetter is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.
BBEA young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.
WebsterBetter is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

What does Ecclesiastes 4:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. The "threefold cord" [Ec 4:12] of social ties suggests the subject of civil government. In this case too, he concludes that kingly power confers no lasting happiness. The "wise" child, though a supposed case of Solomon, answers, in the event foreseen by the Holy Ghost, to Jeroboam, then a poor but valiant youth, once a "servant" of Solomon, and (1Ki 11:26-40) appointed by God through the prophet Ahijah to be heir of the kingdom of the ten tribes about to be rent from Rehoboam. The "old and foolish king" answers to Solomon himself, who had lost his wisdom, when, in defiance of two warnings of God (1Ki 3:14; 9:2-9), he forsook God. will no more be admonished--knows not yet how to take warning (see Margin) God had by Ahijah already intimated the judgment coming on Solomon (1Ki 11:11-13).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Better is a poor and a wise child - The Targum applies this to Abraham. "Abraham was a poor child of only three years of age; but he had the spirit of prophecy, and he refused to worship the idols which the old foolish king - Nimrod - had set up; therefore Nimrod cast him into a furnace of fire. But the Lord worked a miracle and delivered him. Yet here was no knowledge in Nimrod, and he would not be admonished." The Targum proceeds:

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
People are never long easy and satisfied; they are fond of changes. This is no new thing. Princes see themselves slighted by those they have studied to oblige; this is vanity and vexation of spirit. But the willing servants of the Lord Jesus, our King, rejoice in him alone, and they will love Him more and more to all eternity.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ecclesiastes 4:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ט֛וֹבTov[is] goodH2896
יֶ֥לֶדYe.leda youthH3206
מִסְכֵּ֖ןmis.KenpoorH4542
וְחָכָ֑םve.cha.Khamand wiseH2450
מִמֶּ֤לֶךְmi.Me.lekhmore than a kingH4428
זָקֵן֙za.KenoldH2205
וּכְסִ֔ילu.khe.Siland a foolH3684
אֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherwhoH834
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
יָדַ֥עya.Da'he knowsH3045
לְהִזָּהֵ֖רle.hi.za.Herto be warnedH2094
עֽוֹד\׃odstillH5750

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 4:13

  • Proverbs 19:1

    Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

  • 2 Chronicles 25:16

    And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

  • 2 Chronicles 16:9-10

    For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

  • Proverbs 28:15-16

    As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

  • 1 Kings 22:8

    And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

  • Proverbs 28:6

    Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

  • Genesis 37:2

    These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:15-16

    Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

  • 2 Chronicles 24:20-22

    And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you. And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord. Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
is a poor.
9:15,16; Ge 37:2; Pr 19:1; 28:6,15,16
will no more be. Heb. knoweth not to be.
1Ki 22:8; 2Ch 16:9,10; 24:20-22; 25:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 4:12

    And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:13

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

  • Ecclesiastes 4:14

    For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 4

Ecclesiastes 4:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mejor es el muchacho pobre y sabio, que el rey viejo y fatuo que no sabe ser aconsejado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mieux vaut un jeune garçon pauvre et sage, qu’un roi vieux et sot qui ne sait plus être averti.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Besser ein armer und weiser Jüngling als ein alter und törichter König, der nicht mehr weiß, sich warnen zu lassen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Melior est puer pauper et sapiens, rege sene et stulto, qui nescit prævidere in posterum.