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

6Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil. 7When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them. Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. 9We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. 10The king speaks with divine wisdom; he must never judge unfairly.

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 to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.
• Psalms 37:16It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.
• 1 Timothy 6:6Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
• Proverbs 21:6Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.
• Jeremiah 17:11Like a partridge that hatches eggs she has not laid, so are those who get their wealth by unjust means. At midlife they will lose their riches; in the end, they will become poor old fools.
• Micah 6:10What shall I say about the homes of the wicked filled with treasures gained by cheating? What about the disgusting practice of measuring out grain with dishonest measures?

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