Proverbs 15:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

NIV: Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.

NASB: Better is a portion of vegetables where there is love, Than a fattened ox served with hatred.

CSB: Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.

NLT: A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate.

KJV: Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

NKJV: Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.

Here, again, Scripture points out that earthly circumstances don't define happiness nearly so strongly as spiritual perspective. The contrast in meals is between something simple—even bland—versus a rich, luxurious feast. And yet, merely having extravagant food does not make a person happy. Love and fellowship make all the difference, even in meager situations.

This principle applies especially to marriages. Many couples learn the hard way that possessions do not bring happiness and peace to a relationship. A husband and wife may become rich enough to dine at exquisite restaurants, live in a huge house, buy expensive furnishings, and drive luxury cars. And yet, if they despise each other, their luxurious life will feel like a torture chamber.

Solomon teaches that it is better for a couple to live in loving harmony with meager possessions and simple meals than to be surrounded with luxury and eat expensive cuts of meat while despising each other. In modern terms, a meal of plain bread and water, eaten with those we love, is more satisfying than a steak dinner among those who hate each other. This echoes prior proverbs which emphasize the importance of perspective (Proverbs 15:13–16).

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.

Chapter 10 began a long list of Solomon's wise sayings. This passage continues to emphasize common themes such as hard work, humility, godly wisdom, and self-control. This extended collection of proverbs continues through much of chapter 22.

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.