God’s Word Translation
Ecclesiastes 9:17
17One should pay more attention to calm words from wise people than shouting from a ruler of 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
15A poor, wise person was found in that town. He saved the town using his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor person. 16So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength,” even though that poor person’s wisdom was despised, and no one listened to what he said. One should pay more attention to calm words from wise people than shouting from a ruler of fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 9Ecclesiastes 9:17 word by word
דִּבְרֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֔ים בְּנַ֖חַת נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים מִזַּעֲקַ֥ת מוֹשֵׁ֖ל בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:17
- Genesis 41:33“Pharaoh should look for a wise and intelligent man and put him in charge of Egypt.
- 1 Samuel 7:3Samuel told the entire nation of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord wholeheartedly, get rid of the foreign gods you have, including the statues of the goddess Astarte. Make a commitment to the Lord, and serve only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”
- Proverbs 28:23Whoever criticizes people will be more highly regarded in the future than the one who flatters with his tongue.
- Isaiah 42:2He will not cry out or raise ⌞his voice⌟. He will not make his voice heard in the streets.
- James 1:20An angry person doesn’t do what God approves of.
- James 3:17However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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