14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
14 There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it.
14 There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.
14 There was a small town with only a few people in it. A strong king came and mounted an attack, building trenches and attack posts around it.
14 There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it.
14 There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9:14
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
(Read Ecclesiastes 9:13-18)
A man may, by his wisdom, bring to pass that which he could never do by his strength. If God be for us, who can be against us, or stand before us? Solomon observes the power of wisdom, though it may labour under outward disadvantages. How forcible are right words! But wise and good men must often content themselves with the satisfaction of having done good, or, at least, endeavoured to do it, when they cannot do the good they would, nor have the praise they should. How many of the good gifts, both of nature and Providence, does one sinner destroy and make waste! He who destroys his own soul destroys much good. One sinner may draw many into his destroying ways. See who are the friends and enemies of a kingdom or a family, if one saint does much good, and one sinner destroys much good.