Ecclesiastes 9:16 — Compare Translations

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

And I said, `Better [is] wisdom than might, and the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.` --

English ASV

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor mans wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

English Amplified

But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength; but the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

English EASY 2024

So I realized that wisdom is better than power. But if you are poor, nobody accepts that you are also wise. People soon forget what you said.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

But I still say that wisdom is better than strength. They forgot about the poor man's wisdom, and the people stopped listening to what he said. But I still believe that wisdom is better.

English ESV 2016 == The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles

But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

I have always said that wisdom is better than strength, but no one thinks of the poor as wise or pays any attention to what they say.

English God's Word - GW 1995

So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength," even though that poor person's wisdom was despised, and no one listened to what he said.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

And I said, "Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded."

English KJV 1611

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

English LSB

So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heard.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength; yet the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heard.”

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.

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

Though I had said, "Wisdom is better than force," yet the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words go unheeded.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

So I said, "It's better to be wise than to be powerful." But people looked down on the poor man's wisdom. No one paid any attention to what he said.

English NIV

So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

English NKJ 1982

Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard.

English NLT

Then I realized that though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

So I said, "Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded."

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

Then I realized that though wisdom is better than strength, nevertheless, if the wise man is poor, he will be despised, and what he says will not be appreciated.

English Tyndale 1537

Then said I: Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, a simple man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.