9:13 This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, 1
and it is a great burden 2 to me:
9:14 There was once 3 a small city with a few men in it,
and a mighty king attacked it, besieging 4 it and building strong 5 siege works against it.
9:15 However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, 6
and he could have delivered 7 the city by his wisdom,
but no one listened 8 to that poor man.
9:16 So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, 9
but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens 10 to his advice. 11
9:17 The words of the wise are heard in quiet,
more than the shouting of a ruler is heard 12 among fools.
9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner can destroy much that is good.