Tree of Life Version
Ecclesiastes 9:17
17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than a ruler’s shout 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 it, and he delivered the city by his shrewdness. Yet nobody remembered that poor man! 16So I said: “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than a ruler’s shout 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
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:17
- Genesis 41:33So now, let Pharaoh select a man discerning and wise and set him in authority over the land of Egypt.
- 1 Samuel 7:3Then Samuel spoke to the whole house of Israel saying, “If you are returning to Adonai with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, direct your hearts to Adonai and serve Him only. Then He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
- Proverbs 28:23One who rebukes a man will in the end find more favor than one with a flattering tongue.
- Isaiah 42:2He will not cry out or raise His voice, or make His voice heard in the street.
- James 1:20for human anger doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.
- James 3:17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical.
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
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