Ecclesiastes 9:17
The calm words of the wise are heeded
What it says
Calm words from the wise deserve more attention than the loud cry of a ruler among fools.
What it is doing
This verse commends quiet wisdom over noisy authority.
In context
13I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me: 14There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it. 15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.” 17The calm words of the wise are heeded 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war,