Ecclesiastes 9:16

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14 ^aThere was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great¹ snares around it.

15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.

16 Then I said:
“Wisdom is better than ^astrength.
Nevertheless ^bthe poor man’s wisdom is despised,
And his words are not heard.

17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard
Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war;
But ^aone sinner destroys much good.”

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Ecclesiastes 9:17 >>

Ecclesiastes 9:16

The poor man' s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard - I cannot help pursuing this illustration a little farther. The soldier who found Archimedes busily employed in drawing figures upon the sand, put to him some impertinent question, withal rudely obtruding himself on his operations. To whom this wonderful mathematician replied, "Stand off, soldier, and do not spoil my diagram;" on which the bloody savage struck him dead!

<< Ecclesiastes 9:15

Ecclesiastes 9:17 >>

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