English Standard Version
Psalms 37:16
16Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.
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;
- New King James Version (NKJV)A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
- New Living Translation (NLT)It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.
Context of Psalms 37:16
14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; 15their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. 17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. 18The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain 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 house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
- Proverbs 13:25The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
- Proverbs 15:16Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
- Proverbs 16:8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.
- Proverbs 30:9lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
- Ecclesiastes 2:26For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
- Ecclesiastes 4:6Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
- Matthew 6:11Give us this day 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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