Ecclesiastes 4:13 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

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

English ASV

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

English Amplified

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive counsel (friendly reproof and warning)--

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive counsel (friendly reproof and warning)–

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

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

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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

English EASY 2024

A young man may be very poor. But if he is wise, he is better than a king who is foolish. When the king is old, he may not listen to his friends' advice.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

A young leader who is poor but wise is better than a king who is old but foolish. That old king does not listen to warnings.

Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

Someone may rise from poverty to become king of his country, or go from prison to the throne, but if in his old age he is too foolish to take advice, he is not as well off as a young man who is poor but intelligent.

English God's Word - GW 1995

A young man who is poor and wise is better than an old, foolish king who won't take advice any longer.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

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

English KJV 1611

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

English LSB

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

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who no longer knows how to receive a warning.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

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

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows caution;

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

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

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

A poor but wise young man is better off than an old but foolish king. That king doesn't pay attention to a warning anymore.

English NIV

Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning.

English NKJ 1982

Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.

English NLT

It is better to be a poor but wise youth than to be an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who will no longer take advice,

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

It is better to be a poor but wise youth than to be an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.

English Tyndale 1537

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

Ecclesiastes 4:13 — Compare Translations