Proverbs 15:16–17
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15:16Better44 is little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth and turmoil45 with it.46
15:17Better a meal of vegetables where there is love47
than a fattened ox where there is hatred.48
Footnotes
- 44 One of the frequent characteristics of wisdom literature is the “better” saying; it is a comparison of different but similar things to determine which is to be preferred. These two verses focus on spiritual things being better than troubled material things.
- 45 Turmoil refers to anxiety; the fear of the Lord alleviates anxiety, for it brings with it contentment and confidence.
- 46 Not all wealth has turmoil with it. But the proverb is focusing on the comparison of two things—fear of the Lord with little and wealth with turmoil. Between these two, the former is definitely better.
- 47 Heb “and love there.” This clause is a circumstantial clause introduced with vav, that becomes “where there is love.” The same construction is used in the second colon.
- 48 Again the saying concerns troublesome wealth: Loving relationships with simple food are better than a feast where there is hatred. The ideal, of course, would be loving family and friends with a great meal in addition, but this proverb is only comparing two things.
The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press
In other versions
ESVEnglish Standard Version
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles
NIVNew International Version (2011)
Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil.
Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.
CSBChristian Standard Bible
Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with turmoil.
Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox with hatred.
Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
NLTNew Living Translation
Better to have little, with fear for the Lord,
than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.
A bowl of vegetables with someone you love
is better than steak with someone you hate.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
LEBThe Lexham English Bible
Better is little with the fear of Yahweh
than great treasure and trouble with it.
Better is a dinner of vegetables when love is there
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
Copyright 2012 Lexham Press
KJV 1900King James Version
Better is little with the fear of the Lord
Than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
Public Domain