English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
13 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.
13
I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me:
14 There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.
14
There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it.
15 But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
15
Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.
16 But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.
16
So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.