Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. New Living Translation Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison. English Standard Version For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. Berean Standard Bible For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom. King James Bible For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. New King James Version For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom. New American Standard Bible for he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. NASB 1995 For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. NASB 1977 For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. Legacy Standard Bible For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. Amplified Bible for the poor youth has [used his wisdom and] come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. Christian Standard Bible For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. Holman Christian Standard Bible For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. American Standard Version For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor. Aramaic Bible in Plain English Because from prison he goes forth to reign, for also in his kingdom he was born poor Brenton Septuagint Translation For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because he also that was in his kingdom has become poor. Contemporary English Version Even if you were not born into the royal family and have been a prisoner and poor, you can still be king. Douay-Rheims Bible Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty. English Revised Version For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor. GOD'S WORD® Translation A young man came out of prison to rule as king, even though he had been born in poverty in that same kingdom. International Standard Version The former can come out of prison to reign, while the latter, even if born to kingship, may become poor. JPS Tanakh 1917 For out of prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor. Literal Standard Version For from a house of prisoners he has come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he has been poor. Majority Standard Bible For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom. New American Bible for from a prison house he came forth to reign; despite his kingship he was born poor. NET Bible For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom. New Revised Standard Version One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom. New Heart English Bible For out of prison he came forth to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. Webster's Bible Translation For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. World English Bible For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. Young's Literal Translation For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Futility of Power13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning. 14For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom. 15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.… Cross References Genesis 41:14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh. Genesis 41:41 Pharaoh also told Joseph, "I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt." Ecclesiastes 4:15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king. Treasury of Scripture For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becomes poor. for out Genesis 41:14,33-44 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh… Job 5:11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. Psalm 113:7,8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; … also 1 Kings 14:26,27 And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made… 2 Kings 23:31-34 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah… 2 Kings 24:1,2,6,12 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him… Jump to Previous Although Birth Born Forth House Kingdom Kingship Poor Poverty Prison Prisoners Reign Throne Whereas Young YouthJump to Next Although Birth Born Forth House Kingdom Kingship Poor Poverty Prison Prisoners Reign Throne Whereas Young YouthEcclesiastes 4 1. vanity is increased unto men by oppression4. by envy 5. by idleness 7. by covetousness 9. by solitariness 13. by willfulness (14) Becometh.--Instead of this translation, it is better to render, in his kingdom he was even poor; but there is ambiguity in the Hebrew, as in the English, whether the antecedent of the "his" and the "he" is the old king or the new one.Verse 14. - For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. The ambiguity of the pronouns has induced different interpretations of this verse. It is plain that the paragraph is intended to corroborate the statement of the previous verse, contrasting the fate of the poor, clever youth with that of the old, foolish king. The Authorized Version makes the pronoun in the first clause refer to the youth, and those in the second to the king, with the signification that rich and poor change places - one is abased as the other is exalted. Vulgate, Quod de carcere catenisque interdum quis egrediatnr ad regnum; et alius natus in regno inopia consummatur. The Septuagint is somewhat ambiguous, Ὅτι ἐξ οἴκου τῶν δεσμίων ελξελεύσεται τοῦ βασιλεῦσαι ὅτι καί γε ἐν βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐγενήθη πένης, "For from the house of prisoners he shall come forth to reign, because in his kingdom he [who?] was born [or, 'became'] poor." It seems, however, most natural to make the leading pronouns in both clauses refer to the youth, and thus to render: "For out of the house of prisoners goeth he forth to reign, though even in his kingdom he was born poor." Beth hasurim is also rendered "house of fugitives," and Hitzig takes the expression as a description of Egypt, whither Jeroboam fled to escape the vengeance of Solomon. Others see here an allusion to Joseph, who was raised from prison, if not to be king, at least to an exalted position which might thus be designated. In this case the old and foolish king who could not look to the future is Pharaoh, who could not understand the dream which was sent for his admonition. Commentators have wearied themselves with endeavoring to find some other historical basis for the supposed allusion in the passage. But although many of these suggestions (e.g., Saul and David, Joash and Amaziah, Cyrus and Astyages, Herod and Alexander) meet a part of the case, none suit the whole passage (vers. 13-16). It is possible, indeed, that some particular allusion is intended to some circumstance or event with which we are not acquainted. At the same time, it seems to us that, without much straining of language, the reference to Joseph can be made good. If it is objected that it cannot be said that Joseph was born in the kingdom of Egypt, we may reply that the words may be taken to refer to his cruel position in his own country, when he was despoiled and sold, and may be said metaphorically to have "become poor;" or the word nolad may be considered as equivalent to "came," "appeared," and need not be restricted to the sense of "born." Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Forכִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction [the youth] came יָצָ֣א (yā·ṣā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim from prison מִבֵּ֥ית (mib·bêṯ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house to be king, לִמְלֹ֑ךְ (lim·lōḵ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel even though כִּ֛י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction he was born נוֹלַ֥ד (nō·w·laḏ) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage poor רָֽשׁ׃ (rāš) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7326: To be in want or poor in his kingdom. בְּמַלְכוּת֖וֹ (bə·mal·ḵū·ṯōw) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4438: Royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom Links Ecclesiastes 4:14 NIVEcclesiastes 4:14 NLT Ecclesiastes 4:14 ESV Ecclesiastes 4:14 NASB Ecclesiastes 4:14 KJV Ecclesiastes 4:14 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 4:14 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 4:14 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 4:14 French Bible Ecclesiastes 4:14 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 4:14 For out of prison he came forth (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) |
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