Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
Wisdom is better than strength - resuming the sentiment in Ecclesiastes 7:19.
The poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard - permanently: though forced by necessity to hearken to him for a time, they soon forgot him. His poverty soon acted as a cloud, blinding the world to his merits. So Paul (Acts 27:11).