Ecclesiastes 9:17
ContextWisdom 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 1 among fools.
Ecclesiastes 9:16
Context9:16 So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, 2
but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens 3 to his advice. 4


[9:17] 1 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.
[9:16] 3 tn The participle form נִשְׁמָעִים (nishma’im, Niphal participle mpl from שָׁמַע, “to listen”) is used verbally to emphasize a continual, durative, gnomic action.