Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil. New Living Translation Better to have little, with fear for the LORD, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. English Standard Version Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. Berean Standard Bible Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. King James Bible Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. New King James Version Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble. New American Standard Bible Better is a little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure. NASB 1995 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure and turmoil with it. NASB 1977 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure and turmoil with it. Legacy Standard Bible Better is a little with the fear of Yahweh Than great treasure and turmoil with it. Amplified Bible Better is a little with the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the LORD Than great treasure and trouble with it. Christian Standard Bible Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. Holman Christian Standard Bible Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. American Standard Version Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith. Contemporary English Version It's better to obey the LORD and have only a little, than to be very rich and terribly anxious. English Revised Version Better is little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure and trouble therewith. GOD'S WORD® Translation Better to have a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and turmoil. Good News Translation Better to be poor and fear the LORD than to be rich and in trouble. International Standard Version Better is a little accompanied by fear of the LORD than abundant wealth with turmoil. Majority Standard Bible Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. NET Bible Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth and turmoil with it. New Heart English Bible Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble. Webster's Bible Translation Better is little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure and trouble with it. World English Bible Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBetter [is] a little with the fear of YHWH, "" Than much treasure, and tumult with it. Young's Literal Translation Better is a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it. Smith's Literal Translation Good is little with the fear of Jehovah more than much treasure and confusion with it. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBetter is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content, Catholic Public Domain Version Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures and dissatisfaction. New American Bible Better a little with fear of the LORD than a great fortune with anxiety. New Revised Standard Version Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBetter is a little with reverence for the LORD than the great treasures of the wicked. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated To worship LORD JEHOVAH a little is better than the great treasures of the evil. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Better is little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure and turmoil therewith. Brenton Septuagint Translation Better is a small portion with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without the fear of the Lord. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath…15All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. 16Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. 17Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.… Cross References Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. / For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. / But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. Psalm 37:16 Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind. Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Philippians 4:11-13 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. / I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need. / I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Psalm 34:9-10 Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. / Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Proverbs 16:8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. / Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, / treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. Luke 12:22-31 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. / For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. / Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds! ... Psalm 73:25-26 Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You. / My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Proverbs 28:6 Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse. Treasury of Scripture Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. little Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. Psalm 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. great Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Ecclesiastes 2:10,11,18-23 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… Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity… Jump to Previous Better Disquietude Fear Great Little Store Therewith Together Treasure Trouble Tumult Turmoil WealthJump to Next Better Disquietude Fear Great Little Store Therewith Together Treasure Trouble Tumult Turmoil WealthProverbs 15 1. A gentle answer turns away wrathBetter a little with the fear of the LORD This phrase emphasizes the value of spiritual wealth over material wealth. The "fear of the LORD" is a recurring theme in Proverbs, signifying reverence, awe, and obedience to God. It is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and is more valuable than earthly riches. The idea of having "a little" suggests contentment with basic needs, echoing the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34, where He advises not to worry about material needs but to seek first the kingdom of God. This principle is also seen in the life of Jesus, who lived simply and taught His followers to do the same. than great treasure with turmoil Persons / Places / Events 1. Solomon- Traditionally regarded as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His insights into life, wealth, and the fear of the Lord are foundational to understanding this verse. 2. The LORD (Yahweh) - The covenant name of God in the Hebrew Bible, representing His eternal presence and relationship with His people. The "fear of the LORD" is a central theme in Proverbs, emphasizing reverence and obedience to God. 3. Ancient Israel - The cultural and historical context in which Proverbs was written. Understanding the values and societal norms of ancient Israel helps illuminate the significance of wealth and divine reverence. Teaching Points The Value of ContentmentTrue contentment comes from a relationship with God, not from material possessions. The "little" with God's presence is more fulfilling than "great treasure" without Him. The Fear of the LORD Reverence for God should be the guiding principle in our lives. It leads to wisdom, peace, and a proper perspective on material wealth. The Illusion of Wealth Material wealth can bring turmoil and anxiety. It is temporary and can distract from what truly matters—our relationship with God. Prioritizing Spiritual Wealth Spiritual wealth, characterized by peace, joy, and a clear conscience, should be prioritized over accumulating material possessions. Trust in God's Provision Trusting in God's provision allows us to live with less anxiety about material needs, knowing that He cares for us and provides what we truly need.(16) Trouble.--The "disquiet" (Psalm 39:6) which attends the pursuit and care of riches, in contrast to the "peace which they have who love God's law. (Psalm 119:165.)Verse 16. - Better is little with the fear of the Lord. The good man's little store, which bears upon it the blessing of the Lord, is better than great treasure and trouble therewith, i.e. with the treasure (Proverbs 16:8; Psalm 37:16). The trouble intended is the care and labour and anxiety attending the pursuit and preservation of wealth. "Much coin, much care" (comp. Ecclesiastes 6:4). It was good advice of the old moralist, "Sis pauper honeste potius quam dives male; Namque hoc fert crimen, illud misericordiam." Vulgate, thesauri magni et insatiabiles, "treasures which satisfy not;" Septuagint, "Great treasures without fear (of the Lord)." Christ's maxim is, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Betterטוֹב־ (ṭō·wḇ-) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good a little מְ֭עַט (mə·‘aṭ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 4592: A little, fewness, a few with the fear בְּיִרְאַ֣ת (bə·yir·’aṯ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3374: Fear, reverence of the LORD יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel than great רָ֝֗ב (rāḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7227: Much, many, great treasure מֵאוֹצָ֥ר (mê·’ō·w·ṣār) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 214: Treasure, store, a treasury, storehouse with turmoil. וּמְה֥וּמָה (ū·mə·hū·māh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4103: Tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture Links Proverbs 15:16 NIVProverbs 15:16 NLT Proverbs 15:16 ESV Proverbs 15:16 NASB Proverbs 15:16 KJV Proverbs 15:16 BibleApps.com Proverbs 15:16 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 15:16 Chinese Bible Proverbs 15:16 French Bible Proverbs 15:16 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear (Prov. 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