Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Common English Bible

¹³ I also observed the following example of wisdom under the sun—it impressed me greatly: ¹⁴ There was a small town with only a few residents. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and waged a terrible war against it. ¹⁵ Now there lived in that town a poor but wise man who saved everyone by his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor man. ¹⁶ So I thought, Wisdom is better than might, but the wisdom of commoners is despised and their words aren’t heeded.

¹⁷ The calm words of the wise are better heeded than the racket caused by a ruler among fools.

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