King James Version

Ecclesiastes 9:17

The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

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Hebrew

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דִּבְרֵ֣יdivrecauseדָּבָרnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “cause”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…חֲכָמִ֔יםchakhamimwise , manחָכָםadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “wise , man”, the ordinary formH2450wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).בְּנַ֖חַתbenachatin lighting downנַחַתpreposition, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “in lighting down”, the ordinary formH5183a descent, i.e. imposition, unfavorable (punishment) or favorable (food); restfulnesslighting down, quiet(-ness), to rest, be set on.נִשְׁמָעִ֑יםnishmaimhearשָׁמַעverb, niphal, passive participle, absolute — “hear”, a verb used as a describing wordH8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)[idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) n…מִזַּעֲקַ֥תmizaaqatfrom cryזַעַקpreposition, noun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “from cry”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2201a shriek or outcrycry(-ing).מוֹשֵׁ֖לmoshelruleמָשַׁלverb, qal, participle, absolute — “rule”, a verb used as a describing wordH4910to rule(have, make to have) dominion, governor, [idiom] indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power.בַּכְּסִילִֽיםbaksilimin foolכְּסִילpreposition, with the article, adjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “in fool”, the ordinary formH3684properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or sillyfool(-ish).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

The words of the wise spoken in quiet are more acceptable than the cry of a ruler among fools.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

Young’s Literal Translation

The words of the wise in quiet are heard, More than the cry of a ruler over fools.

World English Bible

The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.

Darby Translation

The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

Douay-Rheims

The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the cry of a prince among fools.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

The words of the wise spoken in quiet are more acceptable than the cry of a ruler among fools.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of them that rule in folly.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Λόγοι σοφῶν ἐν ἀναπαύσει ἀκούονται ὑπὲρ κραυγὴν ἐξουσιάζόντων ἐν ἀφροσύναις.