Proverbs 16:16
◄  Proverbs 16:16  ►
New International Version (©2011)
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!

New Living Translation (©2007)
How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver!

English Standard Version (©2001)
How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Get wisdom-- how much better it is than gold! And get understanding-- it is preferable to silver.

International Standard Version (©2012)
How much better than gaining gold is the acquisition of wisdom, the attainment of wisdom better than silver!

NET Bible (©2006)
How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
Possessing wisdom is better than gold, and possessing understanding, better than silver.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold, and the gaining of understanding should be chosen over silver.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

American King James Version
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than 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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.

Darby Bible Translation
How much better is it to get wisdom than fine gold, and the getting of intelligence to be preferred to silver!

English Revised Version
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen 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.

Young's Literal Translation
To get wisdom -- how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold?.... To obtain and possess Christ, the fountain of wisdom, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, which treasures are infinitely preferable to thousands of gold and silver; to gain the knowledge of him, and of God in him, with which eternal life is connected, and in comparison of which all things are loss and dung; to have wisdom in the hidden part, or grace in the heart, which is much more precious than gold that perisheth; to have a spiritual experimental knowledge of the Gospel, and the truths of it, which are more to be desired than gold, yea, than fine gold; all which are to be got by diligent search and inquiry, by prayer and asking for, and to be had or bought without money and without price; and the getting of them is above all other gettings; such wisdom is more valuable in itself, has a greater intrinsic worth in it than gold; it is more profitable and useful, more solid and satisfying; it is not only better, but it is abundantly better, it is inexpressibly so; it cannot be well said how much better it is, and therefore it is put by way of question and admiration; see Proverbs 3:13;

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Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Five proverbs regarding wisdom, righteousness, humility, and trust in God, forming, as it were, a succession of steps, for humility is the virtue of virtues, and trust in God the condition of all salvation. Three of these proverbs have the word טוב in common.

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Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

How much better - to get wisdom than gold? - Who believes this, though spoken by the wisest of men, under Divine inspiration?

Geneva Study Bible

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16. (Compare Pr 3:16; 4:5).

Proverbs 16:16 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Tongue's Answer is from the Lord
…15In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain. 16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! 17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keeps his way preserves his soul. …

Job 28:15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
Job 28:17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
Proverbs 3:14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Proverbs 8:10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
Proverbs 8:19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.