Proverbs 16 · Verse 8

Proverbs 16:8

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Proverbs 16:8, King James Version

Proverbs 16:8 in other translations

BSBBetter a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
WEBBetter is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
ASVBetter is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.
YLTBetter is a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.
DARBYBetter is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.
BBEBetter is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.
WebsterBetter is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.

What does Proverbs 16:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. (Compare Pr 15:6, 16, 17).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
A small estate, honestly come by, will turn to better account than a great estate ill-gotten.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 16:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

טוֹב\־tov-[is] goodH2896
מְ֭עַטMe.'ata littleH4592
בִּצְדָקָ֑הbitz.da.Kahwith righteousnessH6666
מֵרֹ֥בme.Romore than greatness ofH7230
תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹתte.vu.'otgainsH8393
בְּלֹ֣אbe.Lo'with notH3808
מִשְׁפָּֽט\׃mish.PatjusticeH4941

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 16:8

  • Proverbs 15:16

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

  • Psalms 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. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

  • 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.

  • Proverbs 21:6-7

    The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

  • Micah 6:10

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

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
is.
15:16; Ps 37:16; 1Ti 6:6-9
great.
21:6,7; Jer 17:11; Mic 6:10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 16:7

    When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

  • Proverbs 16:8

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

  • Proverbs 16:9

    A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

Read all of Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mejor es lo poco con justicia, que la muchedumbre de frutos sin derecho.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mieux vaut peu avec justice, que beaucoup de revenu sans ce qui est juste.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Besser wenig mit Gerechtigkeit, als viel Einkommen mit Unrechtlichkeit.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Melius est parum cum justitia quam multi fructus cum iniquitate.