He now proceeds to another vanity, even that of honour and power, and the highest places. Better More happy; is a poor and wise child Who is doubly contemptible, both for his age and for his poverty; than an old and foolish king, who, though venerable for his age, and gravity, and royal dignity, yet hath neither wisdom to govern himself, nor to receive the counsels or admonitions of wiser men, but is foolish, rash, and incorrigible. For out of prison he The poor and wise child; cometh to reign Is ofttimes advanced by his wisdom to the highest power and dignity; which was the case with Joseph, Mordecai, and many others; whereas he that is born in his kingdom That old king, who was born of the royal race, and had possessed his kingdom for a long time; becometh poor Is deprived of his kingdom, either by the rebellion of his subjects, provoked by his folly, or by the power of some other and wiser prince.
Related Commentaries of Ecclesiastes 4:13
Ecclesiastes 4:13-14
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.