New English Translation
Proverbs 21:20
20There is desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person devours all he has.
Proverbs 21:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
- New International Version (NIV)The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.
Context of Proverbs 21:20
18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless are taken in the place of the upright. 19It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and easily-provoked woman. There is desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person devours all he has. 21The one who pursues righteousness and love finds life, bounty, and honor. 22The wise person can scale the city of the mighty and bring down the stronghold in which they trust.
Read all of Proverbs 21Proverbs 21:20 word by word
אוֹצָ֤ר׀ נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 21:20
- Proverbs 10:22The blessing from the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.
- Proverbs 15:6In the house of the righteous is abundant wealth, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
- Psalms 112:3His house contains wealth and riches; his integrity endures.
- Ecclesiastes 5:19To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions, he has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil; these things are the gift of God.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.
- Ecclesiastes 10:19Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
- Matthew 6:19“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
- Luke 6:45The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.
- Psalms 23:5You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full.
- Jeremiah 41:8But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, “Do not kill us. For we will give you the stores of wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey we have hidden in a field. So he spared their lives and did not kill them along with the rest.
- Matthew 25:3When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them.
- Luke 15:14Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need.
- Luke 16:1Jesus also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who was informed of accusations that his manager was wasting his assets.
Commentaries on Proverbs 21:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Spendeth it up - literally, swalloweth it. The wise man keeps a store in reserve. He gains uprightly, spends moderately, never exhausts himself. But the proverb may have also a higher application. The wise man stores up all “treasure to be desired” of wisdom, all “oil” of divine influence, which strengthens and refreshes, and so is ready at all times for the work to which the Master calls him. Compare Matthew 25:1-13.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20Verse 20 The plenty obtained by prudence, industry, and frugality, is desirable. But the foolish misspend what they have upon their lusts.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20See also to Proverbs 3:9–10, 15–16; 10:15, 16, 22; 14:24.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. The wise, by diligence and care, lay up and increase wealth, while fools spend--literally, "swallow it up," greedily.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 21:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 21
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries