Ecclesiastes 9:17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Solomon still recommends wisdom to us as necessary to the preserving of our peace and the perfecting of our business, notwithstanding the vanities and crosses which human affairs are subject to. He had said (Eccl. 9:11), Bread is not always to the wise; yet he would not therefore be thought either to disparage, or to discourage, wisdom, no, he still retains his principle, that wisdom excels folly as much as light excels darkness (Eccl. 2:13), and we ought to love and embrace it, and be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:17

The words of wise men are heard in quiet ,.... That is, by some persons and at some times, though not by all persons and always; or they are to be heard, or should be heard, though they seldom be, even the words of wise men that are poor: these are to be heard quietly and patiently, without any tumult and contradiction; or should be heard, being delivered with a low and submissive voice, without any noise, or blustering pride, or passion, sedately and with great humility, submitting them... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:17

The words of wise men are heard in quiet - In the tumult of war the words of Archimedes were not heard; and his life was lost. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:17

The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools . This verse would be better translated, Words of the wise in quiet are heard better than the shout of a chief among fools . The Vulgate takes the tranquility to appertain to the hearers, thus: Verba sapientium audiuntur in silentio ; but, as Delitzsch points out, the contrast between "quiet" and "cry" shows that it is the man, and not his auditors, who is quiet. The sentence says that a wise... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:17-18

Section 10. Here follow some proverbial sayings concerning wisdom and its opposite, which draw the moral from the story in the text. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 9:17

Ecclesiastes 9:17. The words of wise men Though poor; are heard in quiet Are uttered with a modest and low voice, and are, or should be, heard by wise men; more than the cry The clamorous and senseless discourses; of him that ruleth among fools Of a rich and potent, but foolish man, who has some influence on fools like himself, but is justly neglected, and his words disregarded by wise men. Or, as Aben Ezra interprets the verse, connecting it with the preceding, “The words of the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Thoughts on wisdom and folly (9:13-10:20)A simple story illustrates how a person may be wise and humble, but the good he does is not appreciated by those who benefit from it. Riches, status and a show of power are the things people admire. If a person lacks these, he is ignored or despised, even though his quiet words of wisdom may save a city from destruction (13-18).One foolish act can spoil a lot of good. Stupidity leads to wrongdoing and marks a person out as a fool in the eyes of everyone... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 9:17

fools = fat, inert. Hebrew. kesil. See note on Proverbs 1:7 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:17

Ecclesiastes 9:17. The words of wise men are heard in quiet— The words of wise men are more minded among people of a sedate disposition, than the cry of war raised by a man in authority among the inconstant multitude. By this translation, the opposition designed by the author is preserved, as well as the allusion to the condition of a small town mentioned in the preceding parable. See Desvoeux, p. 420. REFLECTIONS.—1st, Solomon had been applying his mind with the greatest diligence to the study... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:17

17. The words of wise, &c.—Though generally the poor wise man is not heard ( :-), yet "the words of wise men, when heard in quiet (when calmly given heed to, as in :-), are more serviceable than," &c. ruleth—as the "great king" (Ecclesiastes 9:14). Solomon reverts to "the rulers to their own hurt" (Ecclesiastes 9:14- :). read more