ט֛וֹב יֶ֥לֶד מִסְכֵּ֖ן וְחָכָ֑ם מִמֶּ֤לֶךְ זָקֵן֙ וּכְסִ֔יל אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־יָדַ֥ע לְהִזָּהֵ֖ר עֽוֹד׃
Mejor es el muchacho pobre y sabio, que el rey viejo y fatuo que no sabe ser aconsejado.
Midrash Tehillim
I will praise the Lord with all my heart. I speak about the inclination to do good and the inclination to do evil, so that a wickedness will not nest in my heart. This is what the scripture says (Ecclesiastes 4:13) "Better a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning". And why is he called a youth? Because it refers to creating goodness. And why is he called poor? Because no nation listens to him. And why is he called wise? Because he is united with the Holy One, blessed be He, for thirteen years prior. (ibid) "An old king who no longer knows how to heed a warning" - this is the evil inclination. And why is he called a king? Because all limbs listen to him. And why is he called old? Because he is connected to a man from his youth to his old age. This is what is written (Genesis 8:21) "For the inclination of man's heart is evil from his youth". From his youth, from his mother's womb. And why is he called a fool? Because he intends to create wickedness in his heart. (Ecclesiastes 4:13) "For he came out of prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom" - in his kingdom, this refers to the inclination to do evil. In his kingdom, the inclination to do good is born. I will recount all Your wonders, they are amazing - some belong to the past, some to this world, and some to the world to come.
Kohelet Rabbah
“For he emerged from prison to reign, as also to his kingdom he was born poor” (Ecclesiastes 4:14).
“For he emerged from prison [beit hasurim] to reign” – as it [the evil inclination] entangles people as though among thorns [seriata]. “As also to his kingdom he was born poor” – with the kingship of the good inclination comes the beginning of the impoverishment of the evil inclination.
Another matter: “Better is a poor…child” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Abraham; “than an old and foolish king” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Nimrod. What is: “To the Shaveh Valley” (Genesis 14:17)? As there they all agreed [hushvu] and chopped down the cedars, and constructed a large platform, and enthroned him32Abraham above upon it; and they were lauding him and saying: “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us” (Genesis 23:6). “As also to his kingdom he was born poor” – with the kingship of Abraham comes the beginning of the impoverishment of Nimrod.
Another matter: “Better is a poor…child” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Joseph; “and wise” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – as his wisdom sustained the entire world during the famine. “Than an old and foolish king” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Potifar. How many miracles did he see performed through [Joseph], but he was not admonished.33He believed his wife’s false accusations against Joseph. “For he emerged from prison to reign” – from Pharaoh’s jail he emerged a king, as it is stated: “I am Pharaoh, and without you no one will lift [his hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt] ” (Genesis 41:44).
“For he emerged from prison [beit hasurim] to reign” – as it [the evil inclination] entangles people as though among thorns [seriata]. “As also to his kingdom he was born poor” – with the kingship of the good inclination comes the beginning of the impoverishment of the evil inclination.
Another matter: “Better is a poor…child” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Abraham; “than an old and foolish king” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Nimrod. What is: “To the Shaveh Valley” (Genesis 14:17)? As there they all agreed [hushvu] and chopped down the cedars, and constructed a large platform, and enthroned him32Abraham above upon it; and they were lauding him and saying: “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us” (Genesis 23:6). “As also to his kingdom he was born poor” – with the kingship of Abraham comes the beginning of the impoverishment of Nimrod.
Another matter: “Better is a poor…child” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Joseph; “and wise” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – as his wisdom sustained the entire world during the famine. “Than an old and foolish king” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Potifar. How many miracles did he see performed through [Joseph], but he was not admonished.33He believed his wife’s false accusations against Joseph. “For he emerged from prison to reign” – from Pharaoh’s jail he emerged a king, as it is stated: “I am Pharaoh, and without you no one will lift [his hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt] ” (Genesis 41:44).