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
Ecclesiastes is a book in the Bible traditionally attributed to King Solomon, who was renowned for his wisdom and served as king of Israel during a time of peace and prosperity. In this chapter, the author reflects on the fleeting nature of life and contrasts the benefits of wisdom with physical might, drawing from observations of social inequalities in ancient Near Eastern societies. However, the verse highlights a common human tendency to overlook wise counsel from those of lower social standing, such as the poor, which was prevalent in a culture that valued wealth and status.
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