Berean Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 9:17
17The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
Ecclesiastes 9:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
- New International Version (NIV)The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.
Context of Ecclesiastes 9:17
15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.” The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 9Ecclesiastes 9:17 word by word
דִּבְרֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֔ים בְּנַ֖חַת נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים מִזַּעֲקַ֥ת מוֹשֵׁ֖ל בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:17
- Genesis 41:33Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.
- 1 Samuel 7:3Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
- Proverbs 28:23He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.
- Isaiah 42:2He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the streets.
- James 1:20for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
- James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The words of wise men are heard in quiet - In the tumult of war the words of Archimedes were not heard; and his life was lost.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-18Verses 13-18 A man may, by his wisdom, bring to pass that which he could never do by his strength. If God be for us, who can be against us, or stand before us? Solomon observes the power of wisdom, though it may labour under outward disadvantages. How forcible are right words! But wise and good men must often content themselves with the satisfaction of having done good, or, at least, endeavoured to do it, when they cannot do the good they would, nor have…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-18This poor man's wise action was effective. Wisdom is better than power, strength, or weapons (see Ecclesiastes 4:13; 7:9, 19; 10:4). However, deserving people are not always honored, and even wise individuals are sometimes forgotten (see Ecclesiastes 2:16; 4:16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. The words of wise, &c.--Though generally the poor wise man is not heard (Ec 9:16), yet "the words of wise men, when heard in quiet (when calmly given heed to, as in Ec 9:15), are more serviceable than," &c. ruleth--as the "great king" (Ec 9:14). Solomon reverts to "the rulers to their own hurt" (Ec 8:9).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Berean Standard Bible — © Berean Bible — CC0 / Public Domain
Commentaries