Proverbs 24:5

24:5 A wise warrior ¹  is strong, ² 

and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;

Ecclesiastes 7:19

Wisdom Needed Because No One is Truly Righteous

7:19 Wisdom gives a wise person more protection ³ 

than ten rulers in a city.

Ecclesiastes 9:16-18

9:16 So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, ⁴ 

but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens ⁵  to his advice. ⁶ 

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 ⁷  among fools.

9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

[24:5]  ¹ sn The twenty-first saying seems to be concerned with the need for wisdom in warfare. In line with that, the word used here is גֶּבֶר (gever), “mighty man; hero; warrior.”

[24:5]  ² tn The expression בַּעוֹז (ba’oz) employs a beth essentiae, meaning he “is strong,” not “in strength.”

[7:19]  ³ tn Heb “gives strength.”

[9:16]  ⁴ tn Or “power.”

[9:16]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ tn Heb “his words are never listened to.”

[9:17]  ⁷ 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.