Ecclesiastes 9:15

However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, ¹  and he could have delivered ²  the city by his wisdom, but no one listened ³  to that poor man.

Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.

But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

There was a poor, wise man living there who knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought any more about him.

There was a poor but wise man in that town whose wisdom saved the town, but he was promptly forgotten. (He was only a poor man, after all.)

Now there was in the town a poor, wise man, and he, by his wisdom, kept the town safe. But no one had any memory of that same poor man.

Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.

However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, ¹  and he could have delivered ²  the city by his wisdom, but no one listened ³  to that poor man.

¹ tn Heb “was found in it”; the referent (the city) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Or “he delivered.” The verb וּמִלַּט (umillat, from מָלַט, malat, “to deliver”) is functioning either in an indicative sense (past definite action: “he delivered”) or in a modal sense (past potential: “he could have delivered”). The literal meaning of זָכַר (zakhar, “to remember”) in the following line harmonizes with the indicative: “but no one remembered that poor man [afterward].” However, the modal is supported by v. 16: “A poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.” This approach must nuance זָכַר (“to remember”) as “[no one] listened to [that poor man].” Most translations favor the indicative approach: “he delivered” or “he saved” (KJV, RSV, NRSV, NAB, ASV, NASB, MLB, NIV); however, some adopt the modal nuance: “he might have saved” (NEB, NJPS, NASB margin).

³ tn Heb “remembered.”