Parallel Verses

Lexham Expanded Bible

A poor but wise youth [is] better than an old but foolish king who no longer knows {how to receive advice}.

New American Standard Bible

A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction.

King James Version

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Holman Bible

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings.

International Standard Version

A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who will no longer accept correction.

American Standard Version

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

Amplified

A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction and counsel (friendly reproof, warning)—

Bible in Basic English

A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.

Darby Translation

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.

Julia Smith Translation

Good a poor and wise child above an old and foolish king, who knew not more to receive instruction.

King James 2000

Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no longer be admonished.

Modern King James verseion

A poor and a wise child is better than an old and foolish king, who will not be warned any more.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

A poor child being wise, is better than an old king that doteth, and cannot beware in time to come.

NET Bible

A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.

New Heart English Bible

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn't know how to receive admonition any more.

The Emphasized Bible

Better a boy poor and wise, - than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.

Webster

Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

World English Bible

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn't know how to receive admonition any more.

Youngs Literal Translation

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
is a poor
מסכּן 
Micken 
Usage: 4

and a wise
חכם 
Chakam 
Usage: 137

ילד 
Yeled 
Usage: 89

than an old
זקן 
Zaqen 
Usage: 178

and foolish
כּסיל 
K@ciyl 
Usage: 70

מלך 
melek 
Usage: 2521

References

Context Readings

One Must Be Willing To Listen To Counsel

12 {Although an assailant may overpower one person, two may withstand him}. A threefold cord {is not easily broken}! 13 A poor but wise youth [is] better than an old but foolish king who no longer knows {how to receive advice}. 14 For he came out of the prison house to reign, {since he was born poor in his kingdom}.


Cross References

Ecclesiastes 9:15-16

Now, a poor wise man was found in it, and he delivered the city by his wisdom.

Genesis 37:2

These [are] the generations of Jacob. Joseph, [being] seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers. Now he [was] a helper with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, the wives of his father. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.

1 Kings 22:8

Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "[There is] still one man to inquire from Yahweh, but I despise him, for he never prophesies [anything] good concerning me, but only bad: Micaiah the son of Imlah." Then Jehoshaphat said, "The king should not say so."

2 Chronicles 16:9-10

For the eyes of Yahweh roam throughout all the earth to strengthen those whose heart is fully devoted to him. You have been foolish in this, for from now on you will have wars."

2 Chronicles 24:20-22

Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people and said to them, "Thus says God: 'Why are you transgressing the commandments of Yahweh so that you will not succeed? For you have forsaken Yahweh, so he will forsake you.'"

2 Chronicles 25:16

And it happened [that] while he was speaking to him, he said to him, "Have we appointed you as a counselor to the king? Stop--{why should you be killed}?" So the prophet stopped and said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my advice."

Proverbs 19:1

Better a poor person walking in integrity than one who is perverse {in his speech} and is a fool.

Proverbs 28:6

Better [to be] poor and walking in one's integrity than to be crooked of ways when one [is] rich.

Proverbs 28:15-16

[Like] a roaring lion and a charging bear [is] a wicked ruler over a poor people.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain