Proverbs 16:8
New International Version
Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.

New Living Translation
Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest.

English Standard Version
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.

Berean Standard Bible
Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.

King James Bible
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

New King James Version
Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice.

New American Standard Bible
Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice.

NASB 1995
Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice.

NASB 1977
Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice.

Legacy Standard Bible
Better is a little with righteousness Than great produce with injustice.

Amplified Bible
Better is a little with righteousness Than great income [gained] with injustice.

Christian Standard Bible
Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.

American Standard Version
Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.

Contemporary English Version
It's better to be honest and poor than to be dishonest and rich.

English Revised Version
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Better a few [possessions] gained honestly than many gained through injustice.

Good News Translation
It is better to have a little, honestly earned, than to have a large income, dishonestly gained.

International Standard Version
A little gain with righteousness is better than great income without justice.

Majority Standard Bible
Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.

NET Bible
Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice.

New Heart English Bible
Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.

Webster's Bible Translation
Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.

World English Bible
Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Better [is] a little with righteousness, "" Than abundance of increase without justice.

Young's Literal Translation
Better is a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.

Smith's Literal Translation
Good a little with justice above abundance of increase with no judgment.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.

New American Bible
Better a little with justice, than a large income with injustice.

New Revised Standard Version
Better is a little with righteousness than large income with injustice.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Better is a little with righteousness than great ingathering acquired unjustly.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Better is a little in righteousness than a multitude of gain which is not by justice.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Better is a little with righteousness Than great revenues with injustice.He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Reply of the Tongue is from the LORD
7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him. 8Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice. 9A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.…

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.

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.”

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.”

Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

1 Peter 5:5-6
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” / Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

Philippians 4:11-12
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.

Psalm 119:36-37
Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain. / Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Proverbs 15:16
Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.

James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

Psalm 62:10
Place no trust in extortion or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains 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 a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

is

Proverbs 15:16
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Psalm 37:16
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

1 Timothy 6:6-9
But godliness with contentment is great gain…

great

Proverbs 21:6,7
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death…

Jeremiah 17:11
As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

Micah 6:10
Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?

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Abundance Better Gain Great Income Increase Injustice Justice Little Revenues Right Righteousness Wealth Wrongdoing
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Abundance Better Gain Great Income Increase Injustice Justice Little Revenues Right Righteousness Wealth Wrongdoing
Proverbs 16
1. The Plans of the heart














Better a little
The phrase "Better a little" emphasizes the value of contentment and simplicity over abundance. In the Hebrew text, the word "better" (טוֹב, tov) conveys a sense of goodness or moral superiority. This suggests that having a small amount, when accompanied by righteousness, is preferable to having much with moral compromise. Historically, this reflects the wisdom literature's frequent theme that true wealth is not measured by material possessions but by one's ethical and spiritual state. The idea is that a modest life, lived rightly, is more fulfilling and aligned with God's will.

with righteousness
The term "righteousness" (צְדָקָה, tzedakah) in Hebrew encompasses justice, rightness, and ethical conduct. It implies living in accordance with God's laws and maintaining integrity. In the biblical context, righteousness is not just a personal virtue but a social one, affecting how one interacts with others and with God. The emphasis here is on the quality of life and character rather than the quantity of possessions. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that prioritizes spiritual wealth over material wealth.

than great gain
"Great gain" refers to substantial material wealth or profit. The Hebrew word for "gain" (רָב, rav) can imply abundance or multitude. The contrast here is stark: the verse suggests that even significant material success is not inherently valuable if it is not accompanied by righteousness. This reflects a recurring biblical theme that warns against the dangers of wealth, such as pride, greed, and the temptation to stray from God's path.

with injustice
The word "injustice" (בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט, belo mishpat) denotes a lack of fairness, equity, or moral integrity. In the biblical context, injustice is often associated with oppression, deceit, and the violation of God's commandments. The verse warns that wealth obtained through unjust means is ultimately worthless and detrimental to one's spiritual well-being. This serves as a reminder that God values justice and righteousness above all, and that true prosperity is found in living a life that honors Him.

Verse 8. - Better is a little with righteousness (Proverbs 15:16; Psalm 37:16). "Righteousness" may mean here a holy life or just dealing; as without right, or, with injustice, in the second clause, may refer either generally wickedness, or specially to fraud and oppression (Jeremiah 22:13). Says Theognis -

Βούλεο δ εὐσεβέων ὀλίγοις σὺν χρήμασιν οἰκεῖν
Η πλουτεῖν ἀδίκως χρήματα πασάμενος.

"Wish thou with scanty means pious to live,
Rather than rich with large, ill-gotten wealth."
Another maxim says to the same effect -

Λεπτῶς καλῶς ζῇν κρεῖσσον η} λαμπρῶς κακῶς. Septuagint, "Better is small getting (λῆψις) with righteousness, than great revenues with iniquity" (see on Proverbs 15:29).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Better
טוֹב־ (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 righteousness
בִּצְדָקָ֑ה (biṣ·ḏā·qāh)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively

than great
מֵרֹ֥ב (mê·rōḇ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

gain
תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת (tə·ḇū·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8393: Product, revenue

with injustice.
בְּלֹ֣א (bə·lō)
Preposition-b | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than (Prov. Pro Pr)
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