Ecclesiastes 4:13
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
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.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.
Webster's Revision
Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
World English Bible
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn't know how to receive admonition any more.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Clarke's Ecclesiastes 4:13 Bible Commentary
Better is a poor and a wise child - The Targum applies this to Abraham. "Abraham was a poor child of only three years of age; but he had the spirit of prophecy, and he refused to worship the idols which the old foolish king - Nimrod - had set up; therefore Nimrod cast him into a furnace of fire. But the Lord worked a miracle and delivered him. Yet here was no knowledge in Nimrod, and he would not be admonished." The Targum proceeds:
Barnes's Ecclesiastes 4:13 Bible Commentary
These verses set forth the vanity of earthly prosperity even on a throne. Opinion as to their application is chiefly divided between considering them a parable or fiction like that of the childless man in Ecclesiastes 4:8 : or as setting forth first the vicissitudes of royal life in two proverbial sayings Ecclesiastes 4:13-14, and then Ecclesiastes 4:15-16, the vicissitudes or procession of the whole human race, one generation giving place to another, Which in its turn will be forgotten by its successor. On the whole, the first appears to have the better claim.
Ecclesiastes 4:13
Child - Rather, young man.
Wesley's Ecclesiastes 4:13 Bible Commentary
4:13 Better - More happy. Now he proceeds to another vanity, That of honour and power. Than a king - Who hath neither wisdom to govern himself, nor to receive the counsels of wiser men.