Proverbs 16:8

Proverbs 16:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
• New International Version (NIV)Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice.

Context of Proverbs 16:8

6Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased; through fearing the Lord one avoids evil. 7When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he even reconciles his enemies to himself. Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice. 9A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps. 10The divine verdict is in the words of the king, his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice.

Proverbs 16:8 word by word

טוֹב־מְ֭עַט בִּצְדָקָ֑ה מֵרֹ֥ב תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּלֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• a littleמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• with righteousnessצְדָקָהtsedâqâh · righteousnessH6666
• than greatרֹבrôb · abundanceH7230
• revenuesתְּבוּאָהtebû'âh · produceH8393
• without rightמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941

Cross-references for Proverbs 16:8

• Proverbs 15:16Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth and turmoil with it.
• 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 21:6Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth; they seek death.
• Jeremiah 17:11The person who gathers wealth by unjust means is like the partridge that broods over eggs but does not hatch them. Before his life is half over he will lose his ill-gotten gains. At the end of his life it will be clear he was a fool.”
• Micah 6:10“I will not overlook, O sinful house, the dishonest gain you have hoarded away, or the smaller-than-standard measure I hate so much.

Commentaries on Proverbs 16:8

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8Verse 8 A small estate, honestly come by, will turn to better account than a great estate ill-gotten.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8Better a little: See also Proverbs 15:16.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. (Compare Pr 15:6, 16, 17).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 16:8

• Contentment
• Poverty
• Riches

In the dictionaries

• Chief
• Divine
• Haughty
• Lot
• Pride
• Whisperer
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 16

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings