Proverbs 15:16

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 discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly. 15All the days of the afflicted are bad, but one with a cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth and turmoil with it. 17Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox where there is hatred. 18A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.

Proverbs 15:16 word by word

טוֹב־מְ֭עַט בְּיִרְאַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה מֵאוֹצָ֥ר רָ֝֗ב וּמְה֥וּמָה בֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• littleמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• with the fearיִרְאָהyir'âh · fearH3374
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• than greatרַבrab · manyH7227
• treasureאוֹצָר'ôtsâr · treasureH214
• and troubleמְהוּמָהmehûmâh · tumultH4103

Cross-references for Proverbs 15:16

• Proverbs 16:8Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice.
• Proverbs 28:6A poor person who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.
• Psalms 37:16The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men,
• 1 Timothy 6:6Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.
• Proverbs 10:22The blessing from the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.
• Ecclesiastes 2:10I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.
• Ecclesiastes 5:10The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile.

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

• Fear of God
• Poverty
• Riches

In the dictionaries

• Abomination
• Cheerful
• Continual
• Countenance
• Disappoint
• Disperse
• Feast
• Grievous
• Humility
• Poetry

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