Ecclesiastes 9:18

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Ecclesiastes 9:18 in Other Translations

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

18 Better to have wisdom than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

18 Wisdom is better than warheads, But one hothead can ruin the good earth.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much good.

Ecclesiastes 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".

Ecclesiastes 9:18 In-Context

16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Cross References

• 1. S Ecclesiastes 2:13; ver 16