Ecclesiastes 9:18
Verse 18 of 18. The 9th of 12 chapters in Ecclesiastes, in Poetry and Wisdom.
14There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.
15Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
16Then I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.
18Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.
World English Bible. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.