Christian Standard Bible
Psalms 37:16
16The little that the righteous person has is better than the abundance of many wicked people.
Psalms 37:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
- New International Version (NIV)Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;
- English Standard Version (ESV)Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
Context of Psalms 37:16
14The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow to bring down the poor and needy and to slaughter those whose way is upright. 15Their swords will enter their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. The little that the righteous person has is better than the abundance of many wicked people. 17For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord supports the righteous. 18The Lord watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever.
Read all of Psalms 37Psalms 37:16 word by word
טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַצַּדִּ֑יק מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן רְשָׁעִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 37:16
- Proverbs 3:33The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous;
- Proverbs 13:25A righteous person eats until he is satisfied, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.
- Proverbs 15:16Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure with turmoil.
- Proverbs 16:8Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.
- Proverbs 30:9Otherwise, I might have too much and deny you, saying, “Who is the Lord?” or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of my God.
- Ecclesiastes 2:26For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 4:6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.
- Matthew 6:11Give us today our daily bread.
- 1 Timothy 6:6But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Commentaries on Psalms 37:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16A little that a righteous man hath - This is a solid maxim. Whatever a good man has, has God's blessing in it; even the blessings of the wicked are cursed.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16A little that a righteous man hath - literally, “Good is a little to the righteous, more than,” etc. Our translation, however, has expressed the sense with sufficient accuracy. There are two things implied here: (a) that it happens not unfrequently that the righteous have little of the wealth of this world; and (b) that this little is to them of more real value, accompanied, as it is, with higher blessings, than the more abundant wealth which the wicked…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-20Verses 7-20 Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. For, in all respects, the little which is allotted to the righteous, is more comfortable and more profitable than the ill-gotten and abused riches of ungodly men. It comes from a hand of special love. God provides plentifully and well, not only for his…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16It is better to be wise with little money than to be rich and evil (Proverbs 15:16; 16:8, 19; 17:1; 28:6).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. riches--literally, "noise and tumult," as incidental to much wealth (compare Psa 39:6). Thus the contrast with the "little" of one man is more vivid.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 37:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 37
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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