Proverbs 15:16
14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
- KJV
- Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
- WEB
- Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.
- ASV
- Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith.
- DARBY
- Better is little with the fear of Jehovah than great store and disquietude therewith.
- BLB
- Better [is] a little with the fear of YHWH, than great treasure and anxiety with it.
- ÅB
- Bedre er lite med Herrens frykt enn en stor skatt med uro.
- OTB
- Bedre er lite med frykt for Herren enn stor rikdom med uro.
- B1930
- Bedre er lite med Herrens frykt enn en stor skatt med uro.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 16:8
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Read in contextPsalms 37:16
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 5:10–12
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
Read in context1 Timothy 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Read in contextProverbs 28:6
Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Read in contextProverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:18–23
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:10–11
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Read in context