Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
So I said, 'Wisdom is better than strength, but when a poor person is wise, people look down on their wisdom and don't listen to what they say.'
The writer is pointing out that while wisdom is more valuable than physical strength, people unfortunately dismiss wise words when they come from someone who is poor.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes from Solomon's reflections in Ecclesiastes, where he observes the ironies and injustices of life. In ancient times, social status heavily influenced whose voice was heard in society - the wealthy and powerful were listened to regardless of their wisdom, while the poor were ignored even when they spoke wisely. Solomon had just told a story about a poor wise man who saved a city but was quickly forgotten.
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