פּירוש אויף קהלת 4:13

“Better a youth” [4:13]. The good inclination is better, and is called a child because it comes to a person when he is thirteen years old. The good inclination is called miskan, which means poor. The good inclination is like a poor person whose words are not heard. All the limbs of the person do not listen to the words of the good inclination, to fulfill commandments. The good inclination is called wise because it makes the person wise. The good inclination is better than the evil inclination, which is called an old and foolish king. It is like a king who rules over all the limbs of the person. Why is it called old? This is because he comes as soon as the person is born. The evil inclination is called evil because it makes the person evil.⁵⁵Rashi, Ecclesiastes, 4:13.

Better a poor but wise child. This is the good inclination, and why is it called “child”? Because it comes to a person only at the age of thirteen years.¹⁹Alternatively, this verse refers to Avrohom who had a Divine prophecy at the age of three years old and refused to bow before Nimrod’s idols. (Targum)

“Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king who no longer knows to receive admonition” (Ecclesiastes 4:13).
“Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king.” “Better is a poor and wise child” – this is the good inclination. Why is it called a child? Because it only associates with a person from the age of thirteen onward. Why is it called poor? It is because not everyone heeds it. Why is it called wise? It is because it guides people to the straight path. “Than an old and foolish king” – this is the evil inclination. Why is it called “king”? It is because everyone heeds it. Why is it called “old”? It is because it associates with him from his youth through his old age. Why is it called a “fool”? It is because it guides a person to an evil path. “Who no longer knows to receive admonition” – he³¹The reference is to the person who submits to the evil inclination. does not know how much pain and how much suffering will afflict him, but he is not cautious in their regard.

Poor. Because the limbs do not obey it, as [they obey] the evil inclination.²⁰According to Rashi that this verse is referring to the good inclination and evil inclination, the expression “better” is somewhat difficult, because “better” implies that both are “good” and one is “better” that the other, but what “good” can be attributed to the evil inclination. The Amtachas Binyomin therefore suggests that the first mem of ממלך does not mean “than” rather it means “as a result of”, i.e., it is better to follow the good inclination “as a result of defeating, after a struggle, the evil inclination, as opposed to one who has not been exposed to the evil inclination, where the probability is a greater that he will be enticed.

Wise. Which gives a person intelligence to [follow] the right way.

Than an old and foolish king. This is the evil inclination, which rules over all the limbs. “Old,” for when a child is born, it comes to him,²¹The evil inclination is referred to as “king” because all obey it, and “old” because it becomes part of man long before the good inclination. as it is stated, “sin rests at the opening.”²²Bereishis 4:7. And foolish. Because it misleads him in the way of evil. It is expounded in the Midrash in this manner.

Who no longer knows how to be vigilant. Because he has aged and no longer accepts reproof.