Ecclesiastes 4:13-14
Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 The Message (MSG)
A poor child with some wisdom is better off than an old but foolish king who doesn’t know which end is up. I saw a youth just like this start with nothing and go from rags to riches, and I saw everyone rally to the rule of this young successor to the king. Even so, the excitement died quickly, the throngs of people soon lost interest. Can’t you see it’s only smoke? And spitting into the wind?
Ecclesiastes 4:13-14 King James Version (KJV)
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
Ecclesiastes 4:13-14 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.
Ecclesiastes 4:13-14 New Century Version (NCV)
A poor but wise boy is better than a foolish but old king who doesn’t listen to advice. A boy became king. He had been born poor in the kingdom and had even gone to prison before becoming king.
Ecclesiastes 4:13-14 American Standard Version (ASV)
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more. For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
Ecclesiastes 4:13-14 New International Version (NIV)
Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
Ecclesiastes 4:13-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom.
Ecclesiastes 4:13-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction and counsel (friendly reproof, warning)— for the poor youth has [used his wisdom and] come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.