Proverbs 17:16

In 11 translations

BSB

Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

KJV

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

WEB

Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?

ASV

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?

LSV

Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, || And a heart—there is none?

YLT

Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?

DBY

To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?

DRC

What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.

GNV

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?

JPS

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?

LXXE

Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischiefs.

Word by word Hebrew · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Original-language editions

WLC

לָמָּה־זֶּ֣ה מְחִ֣יר בְּיַד־כְּסִ֑יל לִקְנ֖וֹת חָכְמָ֣ה וְלֶב־אָֽיִן׃

LXX-Br

Ἱνατί ὑπῆρξε χρήματα ἄφρονι; κτήσασθαι γὰρ σοφίαν ἀκάρδιος οὐ δυνήσεται· ὃς ὑψηλὸν ποιεῖ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ οἶκον, ζητεῖ συντριβήν· ὁ δὲ σκολιάζων τοῦ μαθεῖν, ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς κακά.

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

• Proverbs 21:25–26The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work. All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
• Proverbs 23:23Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
• Deuteronomy 5:29If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever.
• Proverbs 8:4–5“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men. O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
• Acts 28:26–27‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have…
• Proverbs 18:15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
• Acts 13:46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
• John 3:20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
• Hosea 4:11Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding.
• Proverbs 1:22–23“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge? If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you;…
• Isaiah 55:1–3“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that…
• Psalms 81:11–13But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me. So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,
• Proverbs 14:6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
• Proverbs 9:4–6“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment. “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).