God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 15:16
16Better to have a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and turmoil.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble.
Context of Proverbs 15:16
14The mind of a person who has understanding searches for knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity. 15Every day is a terrible day for a miserable person, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better to have a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and turmoil. 17Better to have a dish of vegetables where there is love than juicy steaks where there is hate. 18A hothead stirs up a fight, but one who holds his temper calms disputes.
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 a few ⌞possessions⌟ gained honestly than many gained through injustice.
- Proverbs 28:6Better to be a poor person who has integrity than to be rich and double-dealing.
- Psalms 37:16The little that the righteous person has is better than the wealth of many wicked people.
- 1 Timothy 6:6A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have.
- Proverbs 10:22It is the Lord’s blessing that makes a person rich, and hard work adds nothing to it.
- Ecclesiastes 2:10If something appealed to me, I did it. I allowed myself to have any pleasure I wanted, since I found pleasure in my work. This was my reward for all my hard work.
- Ecclesiastes 5:10Whoever loves money will never be satisfied with money. Whoever loves wealth will never be satisfied with more income. Even this is pointless.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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