New Living Translation
Proverbs 17:16
16It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.
Proverbs 17:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
- New International Version (NIV)Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?
Context of Proverbs 17:16
14Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out. 15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the Lord. It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning. 17A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. 18It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend.
Read all of Proverbs 17Proverbs 17:16 word by word
לָמָּה־זֶּ֣ה מְחִ֣יר בְּיַד־כְּסִ֑יל לִקְנ֖וֹת חָכְמָ֣ה וְלֶב־אָֽיִן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 17:16
- Proverbs 1:22“How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?
- Proverbs 8:4“I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.
- Proverbs 9:4“Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says,
- Isaiah 55:1“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free!
- Acts 13:46Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
- Proverbs 14:6A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.
- Proverbs 18:15Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.
- Proverbs 21:25Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.
- Deuteronomy 5:29Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever.
- Psalms 81:11“But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around.
- Hosea 4:11to worship other gods. “Wine has robbed my people of their understanding.
- John 3:20All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.
- Acts 28:26‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.
Commentaries on Proverbs 17:16
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16More literally: Why is there a price in the hand of a fool? Is it to get wisdom when he has no heart for it? No money will avail without the understanding heart.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16Verse 16 Man's neglect of God's favour and his own interest is very absurd.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Though wealth cannot buy wisdom for those who do not love it, yet wisdom procures wealth (Pr 3:16; 14:24).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 17:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 17
- 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
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