14 There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it. 15 Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
Ecclesiastes 9:14–16
Semantically similar passages
Ecclesiastes 7:18–20
18 It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings. 19 Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city. 20 Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Ecclesiastes 4:12–14
12 And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning. 14 For the youth has come from the prison to the kin…
Proverbs 21:21–23
21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor. 22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. 23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
Sirach 37:19–21
19 There is one who is clever and the instructor of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul. (WEB) 20 There is one who is subtle in words, and is hated. He will be destitute of all food. (WEB) 21 For grace was not given to him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisd… (WEB)
Sirach 11:1–2
1 The wisdom of the lowly will lift up his head, and make him sit in the midst of great men. (WEB) 2 Don’t commend a man for his good looks. Don’t abhor a man for his outward appearance. (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 6:7–9
7 All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied. 8 What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others? 9 Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desi…
Proverbs 28:10–12
10 He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good. 11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with discernment sees through him. 12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but…
Ecclesiastes 2:15–17
15 So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile. 16 For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in… 17 …
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