Ecclesiastes 4:13

Advancement Is Meaningless

13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.

Ecclesiastes 4:13 in Other Translations

KJV
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
ESV
13 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.
NLT
13 It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.
MSG
13 A poor youngster with some wisdom is better off than an old but foolish king who doesn't know which end is up.
CSB
13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings.

Ecclesiastes 4:13 In-Context

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.
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.