Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! New Living Translation How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver! English Standard Version How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. Berean Standard Bible How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver. King James Bible How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! New King James Version How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. New American Standard Bible How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. NASB 1995 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. NASB 1977 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. Legacy Standard Bible How much better it is to acquire wisdom than fine gold! And to acquire understanding is to be chosen above silver. Amplified Bible How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. Christian Standard Bible Get wisdom — how much better it is than gold! And get understanding — it is preferable to silver. Holman Christian Standard Bible Get wisdom— how much better it is than gold! And get understanding— it is preferable to silver. American Standard Version How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver. Contemporary English Version It's much better to be wise and sensible than to be rich. English Revised Version How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver. GOD'S WORD® Translation How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold, and the gaining of understanding should be chosen over silver. Good News Translation It is better--much better--to have wisdom and knowledge than gold and silver. International Standard Version How much better than gaining gold is the acquisition of wisdom, the attainment of wisdom better than silver! Majority Standard Bible How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver. NET Bible How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver. New Heart English Bible How much better it is to get wisdom than gold. Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. Webster's Bible Translation How much better is it to get wisdom than gold? and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver? World English Bible How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionTo get wisdom—how much better than gold, "" And to get understanding—to be chosen [more] than silver! Young's Literal Translation To get wisdom -- how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver! Smith's Literal Translation The obtaining of wisdom how good above gold and the obtaining of understanding to be chosen above silver. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleGet wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver. Catholic Public Domain Version Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver. New American Bible How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is preferable to silver. New Revised Standard Version How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTo get wisdom is much better than gold; and to get understanding is better than silver. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Possessing wisdom is better than gold, and possessing understanding, better than silver. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver. Brenton Septuagint Translation The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Reply of the Tongue is from the LORD…15When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring. 16How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver. 17The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.… Cross References James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. / But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. / Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ... Proverbs 3:13-18 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding, / for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold. / She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her. ... Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner. Job 28:12-19 But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell? / No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. / The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’ ... Colossians 2:2-3 that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, / in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Matthew 13:44-46 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. / Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. / When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it. Proverbs 8:10-11 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. / For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her. 1 Corinthians 1:24-30 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. / For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. / Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. ... Psalm 119:72 The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. Proverbs 4:5-7 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them. / Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you. / Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. Ephesians 1:17-18 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. / I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, Proverbs 2:1-6 My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you, / if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding, / if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, ... Philippians 3:7-8 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. / More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ Proverbs 23:23 Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding. 1 Kings 3:9-12 Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” / Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. / So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice— ... Treasury of Scripture How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! Proverbs 3:15-18 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her… Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 8:10,11,19 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold… Jump to Previous Better Choose Chosen Desired Fine Getting Gold Intelligence Preferred Rather Silver Understanding WisdomJump to Next Better Choose Chosen Desired Fine Getting Gold Intelligence Preferred Rather Silver Understanding WisdomProverbs 16 1. The Plans of the heartHow much better This phrase sets the tone for a comparison, emphasizing the superiority of one thing over another. In the Hebrew text, the word "better" (טוֹב, tov) is often used to denote something that is not just preferable but inherently good and beneficial. The rhetorical question invites the reader to reflect deeply on the value of what is being compared, suggesting that the benefits of wisdom and understanding far surpass material wealth. to acquire wisdom than gold to gain understanding is more desirable than silver Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew How muchמַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what better טּ֥וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good to acquire קְֽנֹה־ (qə·nōh-) Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7069: To erect, create, to procure, by purchase, to own wisdom חָכְמָ֗ה (ḥāḵ·māh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2451: Wisdom than gold; מֵחָר֑וּץ (mê·ḥā·rūṣ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2742: Incised, incisive, a trench, gold, a threshing-sledge, determination, eager to gain וּקְנ֥וֹת (ū·qə·nō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7069: To erect, create, to procure, by purchase, to own understanding בִּ֝ינָ֗ה (bî·nāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 998: An understanding is more desirable נִבְחָ֥ר (niḇ·ḥār) Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 977: To try, select than silver. מִכָּֽסֶף׃ (mik·kā·sep̄) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3701: Silver, money Links Proverbs 16:16 NIVProverbs 16:16 NLT Proverbs 16:16 ESV Proverbs 16:16 NASB Proverbs 16:16 KJV Proverbs 16:16 BibleApps.com Proverbs 16:16 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 16:16 Chinese Bible Proverbs 16:16 French Bible Proverbs 16:16 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 16:16 How much better it is to get (Prov. Pro Pr) |