PROV 16:8 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) It’s better to have just a little from doing what’s right,
⇔ than a large income acquired dishonestly.

Key: red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX ὁ ζητῶν τὸν Κύριον εὑρήσει γνῶσιν μετὰ δικαιοσύνης, οἱ δὲ ὀρθῶς ζητοῦντες αὐτὸν εὑρήσουσιν εἰρήνην.
(ho zaʸtōn ton Kurion heuraʸsei gnōsin meta dikaiosunaʸs, hoi de orthōs zaʸtountes auton heuraʸsousin eiraʸnaʸn. )

BrTr He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace.

ULT Better is a little with righteousness
⇔ than an abundance of produce with no justice.

UST It is better for someone to have just a few things while being righteous,
⇔ than for someone to have a lot of crops while being unjust.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE Better is a little with righteousness,
⇔ than great revenues with injustice.

WMBB (Same as above)

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

LSV Better [is] a little with righteousness,
Than abundance of increase without justice.

FBV Better to have just a little and be honest than to have a lot and be dishonest.

T4T ⇔ It is better to have a small amount of money that is earned honestly
⇔ than to have a lot of money that is acquired dishonestly.

LEB • Better is little with righteousness than great income with no justice.

BBE Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.

Moff Better a little with honesty,
⇔ than a large income with injustice.

JPS Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.

ASV Better is a little, with righteousness,
⇔ Than great revenues with injustice.

DRA Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.

YLT Better [is] a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.

Drby Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.

RV Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.

SLT Good a little with justice above abundance of increase with no judgment.

Wbstr Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.

KJB-1769 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

KJB-1611 Better is a little with righteousnesse, then great reuenewes without right.
(Better is a little with righteousness, then great revenewes without right.)

Bshps Better it is to haue a litle with ryghteousnesse, then great rentes wrongfully gotten.
(Better it is to have a little with righteousness, then great rentes wrongfully gotten.)

Gnva Better is a litle with righteousnesse, then great reuenues without equitie.
(Better is a little with righteousness, then great revenues without equity. )

Cvdl Better is it to haue a litle thinge wt rightuousnes, the greate rentes wrongeously gotten.
(Better is it to have a little thing with righteousness, the great rentes wrongeously gotten.)

Wycl Betere is a litil with riytfulnesse, than many fruytis with wickidnesse.
(Better is a little with rightfulness/righteousness, than many fruits with wickedness.)

Luth Es ist besser wenig mit Gerechtigkeit denn viel Einkommens mit Unrecht.
(It is better few with justice because/than many Einkommens with injustice.)

ClVg Melius est parum cum justitia quam multi fructus cum iniquitate.[fn]
(Better it_is little when/with justice how many fruit when/with iniquity. )

16.8 Melius est parum cum justitia, etc. Melius est in simplici conversatione Deo servire devote, quam multis abundare virtutibus, et proximorum facta despicere.

16.8 Better it_is little when/with justice, etc. Better it_is in/into/on simple conversation to_God to_serve devote, how many abundare virtues, and of_neighbours facts despicere.

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Wealth and Poverty in the Wisdom Literature

The sayings in Scripture about wealth and poverty, particularly in the wisdom literature, are individual snapshots of a broad truth: God blesses the wise with wealth (3:9-10, 15-16; 10:22), making life’s difficulties more manageable (10:15), while foolish behavior—especially laziness—leads to poverty (see 10:4).

The book of Proverbs readily acknowledges that some wicked fools are wealthy, but it also reminds us that this kind of wealth will not last long (11:18; 13:11). Poverty can sometimes result from injustice (13:23) rather than foolishness, and wealth sometimes comes from injustice and dishonesty (16:8). Those who have wealth need to use it wisely, which includes generosity to those in need (28:27; 29:7, 14).

The benefits of wealth are limited. Occasionally, wealth produces problems rather than solving them (11:4; 13:8). Because wisdom can help where wealth cannot, wisdom is much more important than money (15:16-17; 16:8, 16).

All things being equal, the godly will be rewarded with material blessings and the opportunity to be generous. However, all things are not equal. Sometimes wealth does not go to the deserving (see Eccl 9:11), nor does it necessarily produce satisfaction (see Eccl 2:17-23; 5:10-17). In fact, money can be detrimental to faith (1 Tim 6:10; Jas 2:1-13). When a choice must be made between godliness and money, the wise will choose godliness.

Passages for Further Study

Deut 6:10-13; 8:10-11; 1 Sam 2:7; Ps 37:16; Prov 3:9-10, 15-16; 10:15, 22; 11:4, 18, 28; 13:8, 11; 14:24; 15:6, 16-17; 16:8, 16; 23:4-5; 28:27; 29:7, 14; Eccl 5:10-17; 1 Tim 6:10

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

16:8

This proverb compares the living situation of two people. The situation of the person in 16:8a is better than the situation of the person in 16:8b. Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^8aBetter a little with righteousness

^8bthan great gain with injustice.

The first line describes a poor person who continues to do what is right. This person’s situation in life is better than a person who becomes rich by treating other people unjustly or dishonestly.

This is another four-part “better than” proverb. The four parts are:

A: a poor person (undesirable)

B: does what is right (very desirable)

C: a person who becomes rich (desirable)

D: treats others unjustly (very undesirable)

See the note on 12:9 for more details on this kind of proverb.

16:8a

Better a little with righteousness

It is better for a person to have only a few possessions and at the same time to be righteous
The situation of a poor person who does what is right is better

Better a little with righteousness: This line is similar to 15:16, except that it has righteousness instead of “the fear of the LORD.”

16:8b

than great gain with injustice.

than it is to be wealthy and at the same time to be dishonest.
than the situation of a very rich person who has gained his money by cheating others.

than great gain: The word that the BSB translates as gain often refers to crops or produce. Here it refers more generally to income, possessions, or wealth.

with injustice: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “with no justice.” The word “justice” can refer to legal decisions that are just and fair. It can also refer to treating other people honestly and fairly.

Here, “great gain with injustice” probably refers to a large income or great wealth that is gained by dishonesty, cheating, or other unjust means.

General Comment on 16:8a–b

Some other ways to translate this verse are:

Better a few possessions gained honestly than many gained through injustice. (GW)

It is better to be poor and right than to be wealthy and dishonest. (NCV)

It is better to have a little, honestly earned, than to have a large income, dishonestly gained. (GNT)

In some languages, it may be difficult to express a complex comparison in one sentence. Another way to translate it is to divide this verse into two or more sentences. For example:

Some people are poor, but they always do what is right. Other people become wealthy, but they get their money by cheating their fellowmen. Whose lives are better? The first kind of people.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

טוֹב־מְ֭עַט בִּ⁠צְדָקָ֑ה מֵ⁠רֹ֥ב תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּ⁠לֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט

good a_little with,righteousness more,than_greatness_of income with,not justice

The author assumes that his readers will understand that a little refers to the person having the things needed to maintain life. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “It is better for a person to have a little of what they need with righteousness than for a person to have an abundance of produce with no justice” or “A person who has a little of what they need with righteousness is better off than a person who has an abundance of produce with no justice.”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

טוֹב־מְ֭עַט

good a_little

See how you translated this phrase in [15:16](../15/16.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בִּ⁠צְדָקָ֑ה

with,righteousness

Here Solomon refers to being righteous as if that righteousness were an object that someone could have with a little. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “while having righteousness” or “while being righteous”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מֵ⁠רֹ֥ב תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּ⁠לֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט

more,than_greatness_of income with,not justice

See how you translated an abundance of produce in [14:4](../14/04.md) and no justice in [13:23](../13/23.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ⁠לֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט

with,not justice

Here Solomon refers to a lack of justice as if justice were an object that someone did not have with an abundance of produce. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and not having justice” or “while having no justice”

Parallel PROV 16:8

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

16:8

16:8a

16:8b

General Comment on 16:8a–b