And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
On that night could not the king sleep; and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, of those that kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.
Scoffers set a city in a flame; But wise men turn away wrath.
For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
So I saw the wicked buried, and they came (to the grave); and they that had done right went away from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city: this also is vanity.
Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.