Read & explore together
The Futility of Power
This short wisdom saying compares two rulers and shows how quickly public support can shift. It asks readers to notice that status and crowds do not give lasting meaning, especially when a leader will not listen.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In these verses, the speaker reflects on life "under the sun" by comparing a poor but wise youth with an old but foolish king. The passage stays at the level of wisdom observation. It comments on power, succession, popularity and the emptiness of human applause.
Ecclesiastes 4:13–16Main takeaway
This passage teaches that power and popularity are fragile, while wisdom includes being willing to receive correction.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A surprising comparisonThe passage begins with a value judgement: "Better" is the poor and wise youth than the old and foolish king.
Explanation
The passage begins with a value judgement: "Better" is the poor and wise youth than the old and foolish king. Age and position do not automatically make someone wise. The key failing of the king is that he no longer knows how to receive admonition, meaning correction or warning. Refusing correction is presented as foolishness.
02A dramatic change in statusThe youth’s rise is described in striking terms. He came "out of prison" to become king, and he was also born poor in his kingdom.
Explanation
The youth’s rise is described in striking terms. He came "out of prison" to become king, and he was also born poor in his kingdom. The details underline a complete reversal of circumstances. The point is not to build a full story, but to show that human status can change sharply.
03The crowd moves to the next leaderThe speaker says he saw "all the living" with "the youth, the other, who succeeded him". Attention shifts from the old king to the next ruler.
Explanation
The speaker says he saw "all the living" with "the youth, the other, who succeeded him". Attention shifts from the old king to the next ruler. The wording highlights how people gather around the one who now appears promising. Public support can be wide, but it is also changeable.
04Even great popularity fadesThere seemed to be no end to the people under this ruler, yet later generations would not rejoice in him.
Explanation
There seemed to be no end to the people under this ruler, yet later generations would not rejoice in him. So even a leader followed by many is eventually forgotten or loses favour. The conclusion is sober: this too is "vanity and a chasing after wind", something fleeting and hard to hold.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What makes the king in verse 13 foolish, even though he is old and powerful?
Look for the specific failure named in the verse: he does not know how to receive admonition any more.
02How does verse 14 show the instability of human status?
Notice both parts of the verse: the youth is linked with prison and poverty, yet he becomes king.
03Why does the passage end by calling this "vanity and a chasing after wind"?
Use verse 16 to connect huge public support with the fact that later people do not rejoice in the ruler.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ecclesiastes 4:13–16
13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
14For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.