English Standard Version
Proverbs 15:16
16Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
Proverbs 15:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.
- New International Version (NIV)Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.
Context of Proverbs 15:16
14The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. 17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. 18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
Read all of Proverbs 15Proverbs 15:16 word by word
טוֹב־מְ֭עַט בְּיִרְאַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה מֵאוֹצָ֥ר רָ֝֗ב וּמְה֥וּמָה בֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 15:16
- Proverbs 16:8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.
- Proverbs 28:6Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
- Psalms 37:16Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.
- 1 Timothy 6:6But godliness with contentment is great gain,
- Proverbs 10:22The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
- Ecclesiastes 2:10And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.
- Ecclesiastes 5:10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
Commentaries on Proverbs 15:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Better is little with the fear of the Lord - Because where the fear of God is, there are moderation and contentment of spirit.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16This proverb has its completion in the teaching of Matthew 6:33.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-17Verses 16-17 Believers often have enough when worldly eyes see little; the Lord is with them, without the cares, troubles, and temptations which are with the wealth of the wicked.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16A respectful fear of the Lord calms inner turmoil and brings peace. Better a little: See also Proverbs 16:8.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. trouble--agitation, implying the anxieties and perplexities attending wealth held by worldlings (Pr 16:18; 1Ti 6:6).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 15:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries