New King James Version
Proverbs 21:20
20There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.
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 Living Translation (NLT)The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.
Context of Proverbs 21:20
18The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright. 19Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman. There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it. 21He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness, and honor. 22A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.
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 of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.
- Proverbs 15:6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
- Psalms 112:3Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever.
- Ecclesiastes 5:19As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 10:19A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.
- Matthew 6:19“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
- Luke 6:45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
- Psalms 23:5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
- Jeremiah 41:8But ten men were found among them who said to Ishmael, “Do not kill us, for we have treasures of wheat, barley, oil, and honey in the field.” So he desisted and did not kill them among their brethren.
- Matthew 25:3Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
- Luke 15:14But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
- Luke 16:1He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries