Proverbs 15:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.

NIV: Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.

NASB: Better is a little with the fear of the Lord Than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure.

CSB: Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure with turmoil.

NLT: Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

KJV: Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

NKJV: Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble.

Solomon compares two situations: living without material wealth, but knowing and honoring God, versus being prosperous and suffering the consequences of a godless life. As is typical of the Old Testament, the term "fear" is used here to mean a form of holy reverence and obedience. It does not extend to terror or panic, but neither does it mean something entirely carefree. Honoring God begins with acknowledging His role as our Creator and Master (Proverbs 1:7; 8:13; 14:27). Regardless of earthly circumstances, a sincere relationship with God improves our perspective (Proverbs 15:13–14).

In contrast, wealth cannot guarantee happiness or peace. In fact, chasing money while ignoring God tends to produce anxiety and insecurity (Proverbs 10:9; 11:4). The Hebrew word mēhu'māh can be translated as "trouble," "turmoil," "confusion," or even "panic." Godless living, itself, brings risks and consequences (Proverbs 13:15). When success comes from faithful living, it is far more secure (Proverbs 10:29).

Knowing and honoring God enables the believer to endure hardship and pressure (Philippians 4:13), with a calmness in the soul, and to know God is working all things for the believer's good (Romans 8:28–30). God allows trials to enter the believer's life to prove the genuineness of his faith (1 Peter 1:6–7) and to help to conform him to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Paul tells Timothy that "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6). Occupying one's life with the pursuit of wealth plunges people "into ruin and destruction" (1 Timothy 6:9–10).

Proverbs 15:13–30 continues Solomon's contrasting descriptions of the wise and the foolish. In this book, those ideas are associated with accepting or rejecting God's truth, respectively (Proverbs 1:7). He writes about the gladness of the upright, wise person and the depressing existence of the wicked, foolish person. He contrasts attitudes, thoughts, and actions of both kinds of individuals, and he states that the Lord is far from the wicked but close enough to the righteous to hear their prayers.

Solomon begins this chapter of Proverbs by addressing subjects such as anger and self-control and how those reactions produce different responses from others. That extends to how carefully a person guards their words, and their responses to questions. Wise people seek wisdom and humbly accept it. Foolish people are careless, lazy, or arrogant. Solomon also notes the importance of perspective, and once again commends those who sincerely seek godly wisdom.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.