Ecclesiastes 4:13

In 11 translations

BSB

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

KJV

¶ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.who…: Heb. who knoweth not to be admonished

WEB

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.

ASV

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

LSV

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who has not known to be warned anymore.

YLT

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.

DBY

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.

DRC

Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.

GNV

Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.

JPS

Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

LXXE

Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.

Word by word Hebrew · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Original-language editions

WLC

ט֛וֹב יֶ֥לֶד מִסְכֵּ֖ן וְחָכָ֑ם מִמֶּ֤לֶךְ זָקֵן֙ וּכְסִ֔יל אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־יָדַ֥ע לְהִזָּהֵ֖ר עֽוֹד׃

LXX-Br

Ἀγαθὸς παῖς πένης καὶ σοφὸς ὑπὲρ βασιλέα πρεσβύτερον καὶ ἄφρονα, ὃς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ προσέχειν ἔτι·

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

• 2 Chronicles 25:16While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have…
• Proverbs 19:1Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
• Proverbs 28:15–16Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people. A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.
• 2 Chronicles 16:9–10For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be…
• 1 Kings 22:8The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man who can ask the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!”…
• Proverbs 28:6Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
• Genesis 37:2This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
• Ecclesiastes 9:15–16Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his…
• 2 Chronicles 24:20–22Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot…

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).