An isolated leader

NIV: Advancement Is Meaningless

Ecclesiastes 4: 13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning. 14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. 16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

From New Bible Commentary: An isolated leader. Some ambiguous pronouns in v 14 mean that this passage can be read in several ways. The NIV is probably correct. The elderly king of v 13 was wise once (as no longer suggests) but lost his wisdom. The word for poor refers to humble origins. Youth ranges in age from teens to forties. In v 14 his refers to the king. A young man arises; he had everything against him but the king became isolated (implied in v 15). The isolation of the older man led to the success of the younger. The younger man was successful for a while (15). In v 16 before them means ‘were their subjects’. For the younger man also popularity was not lasting. [p. 613] He repeated the cycle. Two main points that are true universally arise from the story: that isolation is part of the painfulness of human experience, and that the new generation did not solve the problem of the older generation (see 1:9-11).

Ryan's reflections.
leaders come and go. every generation complain about the leaders of their time; and they seem to always think they have the know-how or answers to solve problems. "wait till you become a leader youself.... wait till you become a father yourself" while there may me some truth, the point of reflection is : it is meaningless. there will surely be something people will not be satisfied with - either with the current life or with the life to come. (assume one believes and go to heaven!) leaders come, leaders go... no one can outlast God. It is still God who decides who shall reign, who shall end well, and who shall end badly. He is sovereign ; if there is anything to ask... (see ecc 3:14-15)