Psalms 37:16

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

14Wicked people get out their swords, and they prepare to shoot their arrows. They try to make poor and helpless people fall down. They try to destroy people who do what is right. 15But their swords will go into their own hearts. Their bows will break in pieces. It is better to do what is right and only have a few things, than to be wicked and have many things. 17The Lord keeps righteous people safe, but he will destroy the power of wicked people. 18If anyone lives a completely good life, the Lord takes care of them. His gifts to them will last for ever.

Psalms 37:16 word by word

טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַצַּדִּ֑יק מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן רְשָׁעִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A littleמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• that a righteous manצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• than the richesהָמוֹןhâmôn hâmôn · crowdH1995
• of manyרַבrab · manyH7227
• wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563

Cross-references for Psalms 37:16

• Proverbs 3:33The Lord curses the homes of wicked people, but he blesses the homes of righteous people.
• Proverbs 13:25Righteous people have plenty of food to eat. But wicked people have an empty stomach.
• Proverbs 15:16You may be poor, but you respect and obey the Lord. That is better than if you are very rich, but you have a lot of trouble.
• Proverbs 16:8If you do what is right but you are not rich, that is better than to be rich because you cheat people.
• Proverbs 30:9If I have more than enough, I might say that I do not know you. I might say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ But if I am poor, I might rob people. That would insult my God's good name.
• Ecclesiastes 2:26God gives wisdom, knowledge and joy to people who please him. Wicked people may work hard and become rich. But God takes away their valuable things and he gives them to someone who pleases him. So their hard work has no purpose. It is like somebody who tries to catch the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 4:6It is good to have only a little food and be happy. That is better than too much hard work that gives you a lot of food. It is as useless as somebody who tries to catch the wind.
• Matthew 6:11Please give us the food that we need today.
• 1 Timothy 6:6What makes our life really rich? We should serve God in a way that pleases him and be happy with the things that we have.

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

• Contentment
• Poor
• Riches
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Cease
• Commit
• Consume
• Cut
• Forsake
• Mark
• Poetry
• Trust
• Wisdom
• Wise

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