Ecclesiastes 4:13 says, Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.  Solomon knew what it meant to be king, and he was getting older and often had failed to be admonished because he had the power to do anything he desired to do.  He said it was better to be a poor, wise child than to be an old and foolish king.  We need to realize that wisdom comes only from God, and if we begin to feel that just because we have the power to do whatever we want that we have the right to do so, without acting under God's leadership, then we will one day end up realizing how foolish we are.  A true leader realizes that he needs to listen to others and even if he has great wisdom, he doesn't always know the best way to do everything.  Verse fourteen says, For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.  Solomon seems to be referring to Joseph when speaking of the one who came out of prison to reign.  Joseph was also noted for his wisdom, but he never truly became self centered.  Solomon was born to his kingdom, was one of the wisest men ever born, but he to often focused on his own desires.  Since he could find no reason in life, he saw himself as having become poor.  Verse fifteen says, I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.  Matthew Henry says Solomon was speaking of a king having an heir, who people would soon look to for leadership, as the old king was basically ignored if he was no longer the real authority.  I think it also applies to every passing generation.  Our children take over the leadership roles as we begin to fail in strength, and that is as it should be.  That is why it is so important to teach our children about God.  Verse sixteen concludes, There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.  Solomon seemed to be saying that just as most of the people who came before were soon forgotten, so would all those that came after.  If we are looking at life only in the terms of this world, it can truly amount to nothing.  We, as followers of Christ, are to look at the world from God's perspective.  Only then can we find hope everlasting.