New Living Translation
Proverbs 21:20
20The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.
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 are punished in place of the godly, and traitors in place of the honest. 19It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. 21Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. 22The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress 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 of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
- Proverbs 15:6There is treasure in the house of the godly, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.
- Psalms 112:3They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will last forever.
- Ecclesiastes 5:19And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom is even better when you have money. Both are a benefit as you go through life.
- Ecclesiastes 10:19A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!
- Matthew 6:19“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
- Luke 6:45A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
- Psalms 23:5You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
- Jeremiah 41:8The other ten had talked Ishmael into letting them go by promising to bring him their stores of wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey that they had hidden away.
- Matthew 25:3The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps,
- Luke 15:14About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
- Luke 16:1Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money.
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 Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries