Ecclesiastes 9:16-18

9:16 So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, ¹ 

but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens ²  to his advice. ³ 

Wisdom versus Fools, Sin, and Folly

9:17 The words of the wise are heard in quiet,

more than the shouting of a ruler is heard ⁴  among fools.

9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

[9:16]  ¹ tn Or “power.”

[9:16]  ² tn The participle form נִשְׁמָעִים (nishma’im, Niphal participle mpl from שָׁמַע, “to listen”) is used verbally to emphasize a continual, durative, gnomic action.

[9:16]  ³ tn Heb “his words are never listened to.”

[9:17]  ⁴ tn The phrase “is heard” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity and smoothness. Note its appearance in the previous line.