Ecclesiastes 7:19

New King James Version

Wisdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city.

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Wisedome shall strengthen the wise man more then ten mightie princes that are in ye citie.

Christian Standard Bible®
Wisdom makes the wise person strongerthan ten rulers of a city.

Hebrew Names Version
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

Darby Translation
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.

Easy-to-Read Version
Surely there is no one on earth who always does good and never sins. But wisdom can make one person stronger than ten leaders in a city.

Amplified Bible
Wisdom strengthens the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

American Standard Version
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

Contemporary English Version
Wisdom will make you stronger than the ten most powerful leaders in your city.

Complete Jewish Bible
To a wise man wisdom is better protection than ten rulers in a city.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Wisdom is a stronghold to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

King James Version (1611)
Wisedome strengtheneth the wise, more then ten mightie men which are in the citie.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.

English Revised Version
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers which are in a city.

Berean Standard Bible
Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.

Lexham English Bible
Wisdom gives more strength to the wise than ten rulers who are in the city.

Literal Translation
Wisdom makes the wise stronger than ten rulers who are in the city.

New Century Version
Wisdom makes a person stronger than ten leaders in a city.

New English Translation
Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.

New Living Translation
One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!

New Life Bible
Wisdom gives more strength to a wise man than ten rulers have in a city.

New Revised Standard
Wisdom gives strength to the wise more than ten rulers that are in a city.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Wisdom, bringeth more strength to a wise man, than ten heroes, that are in the city.

Douay-Rheims Bible
(7-20) Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.

George Lamsa Translation
Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten princes that are in the city.

Good News Translation
Wisdom does more for a person than ten rulers can do for a city.

New American Standard Bible
Wisdom strengthens a wise person more than ten rulers who are in a city.

King James Version
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wysdome geueth more courage vnto the wyse, then ten mightie men of the citie.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Wisdom hath coumfortid a wise man, ouer ten pryncis of a citee.

Young's Literal Translation
The wisdom giveth strength to a wise man, more than wealth the rulers who have been in a city.

World English Bible
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

Revised Standard Version
Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

Update Bible Version
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] who are in the city.

Bible in Basic English
Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a town.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wy?dome geueth more corage vnto the wyse, then ten mightie men of the citie:

THE MESSAGE
Wisdom puts more strength in one wise person Than ten strong men give to a city.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

Legacy Standard Bible
Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten men with power who are in a city.

Contextual Overview

¹¹ Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun. ¹² For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it. ¹³ Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked? ¹⁴ In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come after him. ¹⁵ I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness. ¹⁶ Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? ¹⁷ Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? ¹⁸ It is good that you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all. ¹⁹ Wisdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city. ²⁰ For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 9:15-18, 2 Samuel 20:16-22, Proverbs 21:22, Proverbs 24:5, Colossians 1:9-11

Reciprocal: Joshua 8:4 - go not 2 Samuel 20:22 - in her wisdom 1 Kings 3:9 - to judge 1 Kings 3:28 - the wisdom 2 Kings 2:12 - My father 1 Chronicles 12:32 - all their Proverbs 8:14 - I have Ecclesiastes 9:16 - Wisdom Isaiah 33:6 - wisdom Daniel 1:4 - and skillful Daniel 2:23 - who hast

Cross-References

Genesis 7:2
You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female;

Genesis 7:3
also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth.

Genesis 7:6
Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the earth.

Genesis 7:9
two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.

Job 12:15
If He withholds the waters, they dry up; If He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.

Jeremiah 3:23
Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, And from the multitude of mountains; Truly, in the LORD our God Is the salvation of Israel.

2 Peter 3:6
by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise,.... Against such extremes as before mentioned; it is a guard about him, as well as a guide unto him; it is a defence unto him, as before observed, Ecclesiastes 7:12; and is better than strength of body, or weapons of war, Ecclesiastes 9:16; and a wise man does greater things by it than a strong man with them, and is safer with it than he can be by them. Some understand this of Christ, the Wisdom of God, without whom a good man can do nothing, but all things through him strengthening him; and who being a strong tower and place of refuge to him, he is safer in him than if he was in the strongest garrison, and under the protection of ever so large a number of valiant men: Christ, and grace from him, strengthen

more than ten mighty [men] which are in the city; that is, than many mighty men, or men of war, which guard a city; the city of Jerusalem, or any other. The Targum applies this to Joseph, and paraphrases it,

"the wisdom of Joseph the son of Jacob helped him to make him wiser than all his ten righteous brethren.''

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. Wisdom strengtheneth the wise — One wise, thoroughly learned, and scientific man, may be of more use in fortifying and defending a city, than ten princes. Witness the case of Syracuse, when attacked by the Romans both by sea and land. Archimedes, by his engines, burnt and dashed their fleet to pieces, and destroyed all that came near the walls. And had not the city been betrayed, and he killed, all their force and skill could not have taken it.