Ecclesiastes 9:16

¹⁹Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

⁵A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,

²²A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.

²When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? ³Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended at him.

²⁶For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; ²⁷but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong. ²⁸God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist, ²⁹that no flesh should boast before God.

²For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue,^[+] and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in, ³and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool” ⁴haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? ⁵Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him? ⁶But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts?

¹⁵The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

¹⁸Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.

⁴⁷The Pharisees therefore answered them, “You aren’t also led astray, are you? ⁴⁸Have any of the rulers or any of the Pharisees believed in him? ⁴⁹But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is cursed.”

²⁴So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”

²⁵He therefore answered, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

²⁶They said to him again, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

²⁷He answered them, “I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t also want to become his disciples, do you?”

²⁸They insulted him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. ²⁹We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from.”

³⁰The man answered them, “How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. ³¹We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, he listens to him.³²Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind. ³³If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

³⁴They answered him, “You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?” Then they threw him out.