King James Version

Ecclesiastes 4:13

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

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Hebrew

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ט֛וֹבtovgoodטוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…יֶ֥לֶדyeledchildיֶלֶדnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “child”, the ordinary formH3206something born, i.e. a lad or offspringboy, child, fruit, son, young man (one).מִסְכֵּ֖ןmiskenpoorמִסְכֵּןadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “poor”, the ordinary formH4542indigentpoor (man).וְחָכָ֑םvechakhamand wise , manחָכָםconjunction, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “and wise , man”, the ordinary formH2450wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).מִמֶּ֤לֶךְmimelekhfrom kingמֶלֶךְpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “from king”, the ordinary formH4428a kingking, royal.זָקֵן֙zaqenoldזָקֵןadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “old”, the ordinary formH2205oldaged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator.וּכְסִ֔ילukhesiland foolכְּסִילconjunction, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “and fool”, the ordinary formH3684properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or sillyfool(-ish).אֲשֶׁ֛רasherbecauseאֲשֶׁרparticle, relative — “because”H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever,…לֹאlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…יָדַ֥עyadaknowיָדַעverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “know”, a completed actionH3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with…לְהִזָּהֵ֖רlehizaherto admonishזָהַרpreposition, verb, niphal, infinitive construct — “to admonish”, the to-form of the verbH2094to gleam; figuratively, to enlighten (by caution)admonish, shine, teach, (give) warn(-ing).עֽוֹדodagainעוֹדadverb — “again”H5750properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, moreagain, [idiom] all life long, at all, besides, but, else, further(-more), henceforth, (any) longer, (any) more(-over), [idiom] once, since, (be) still, when, (good, the) while (having being), (as, because, whether, while) yet (within).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

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

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

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

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.

Darby Translation

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

Douay-Rheims

Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

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

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἀγαθὸς παῖς πένης καὶ σοφὸς ὑπὲρ βασιλέα πρεσβύτερον καὶ ἄφρονα, ὃς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ προσέχειν ἔτι·