Eclesiastes 9:18

18 Melhor é a sabedoria do que as armas de guerra; mas um só pecador faz grande dano ao bem.

Eclesiastes 9:18 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 9:18

Wisdom [is] better than weapons of war
And does what they cannot do; of which the wisdom of the poor wise man is a full proof, which delivered the city from a potent prince, when weapons of war could not: see ( Ecclesiastes 7:10 ) ; but one sinner destroyeth much good:
his own soul by his sins, and the souls of others by his counsels, example, and conversation, which corrupt good manners; so does one sinner in a family, neighbourhood, and town; as one poor wise man does much good, one sinner mars much; one Achan in a camp or army, one bad counsel for in a cabinet, one false teacher in the church, will do a great deal of mischief, as well as one debauchee in a town or city. The Vulgate Latin version is, "who sins in one"; offends or sins in one, as in ( James 2:10 ) ; so the Syriac version, "one sin destroys much good", or many good things; and to the same purpose the Arabic version, "he that committeth one sin".

Eclesiastes 9:18 In-Context

16 Então disse eu: Melhor é a sabedoria do que a força; todavia a sabedoria do pobre é desprezada, e as suas palavras não são ouvidas.
17 As palavras dos sábios ouvidas em silêncio valem mais do que o clamor de quem governa entre os tolos.
18 Melhor é a sabedoria do que as armas de guerra; mas um só pecador faz grande dano ao bem.
The Almeida Atualizada is in the public domain.