Parallel Verses

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.

Lexham Expanded Bible

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

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 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. 13 A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. 14 For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.


Cross References

Ecclesiastes 9:15-16

But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

Genesis 37:2

These are the records of the generations of Jacob.Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.

1 Kings 22:8

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”

2 Chronicles 16:9-10

For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.”

2 Chronicles 24:20-22

Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus God has said, ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has also forsaken you.’”

2 Chronicles 25:16

As he was talking with him, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

Proverbs 19:1

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

Proverbs 28:6

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked though he be rich.

Proverbs 28:15-16

Like a roaring lion and a rushing 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