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Thursday, May 1st, 2025
the Second Week after Easter
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Proverbs 17:16

It does a fool no good to spend money on an education, because he has no common sense.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Blindness;   The Topic Concordance - Foolishness;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Mind/reason;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Fool, Foolishness, and Folly;   Proverbs, Book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fool;   Get;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Why does a fool have money in his handwith no intention of buying wisdom?
Hebrew Names Version
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he has no understanding?
King James Version
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
English Standard Version
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
New American Standard Bible
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?
New Century Version
It won't do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom, because he doesn't have the ability to be wise.
Amplified Bible
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?
World English Bible
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he has no understanding?
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?
Legacy Standard Bible
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom,When he has no heart of wisdom?
Berean Standard Bible
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
Contemporary English Version
Why should fools have money for an education when they refuse to learn?
Complete Jewish Bible
Why would a fool wish to pay for wisdom when he has no desire to learn?
Darby Translation
To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?
Easy-to-Read Version
Money is wasted on fools. They cannot buy wisdom when they have no sense.
George Lamsa Translation
What good is wealth in the possession of a fool who has no desire to acquire wisdom?
Lexham English Bible
Why is this? A price in the hand of a fool, in order to buy wisdom where there is no sense.
Literal Translation
Why is there hire in a fool's hand to get wisdom, and there is no heart for it ?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
What helpeth it to geue a foole money in his hode, where as he hath no mynde to bye wy?dome?
American Standard Version
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
Bible in Basic English
How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
King James Version (1611)
Wherfore is there a price in the hand of a foole to get wisedome, seeing he hath no heart to it?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Whereto hath a foole treasure in his hande to bye wisdome, seeing he hath no minde therto?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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 mischief.
English Revised Version
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
What profitith it to a fool to haue richessis, sithen he mai not bie wisdom? He that makith his hous hiy, sekith falling; and he that eschewith to lerne, schal falle in to yuels.
Update Bible Version
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he has no understanding?
Webster's Bible Translation
Why [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
New English Translation
Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?
New King James Version
Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?
New Living Translation
It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.
New Life Bible
It does a fool no good to try to buy wisdom, when he has no understanding.
New Revised Standard
Why should fools have a price in hand to buy wisdom, when they have no mind to learn?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.
Revised Standard Version
Why should a fool have a price in his hand to buy wisdom, when he has no mind?
Young's Literal Translation
Why [is] this -- a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
THE MESSAGE
What's this? Fools out shopping for wisdom! They wouldn't recognize it if they saw it!
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?

Contextual Overview

16 It does a fool no good to spend money on an education, because he has no common sense.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a price: Proverbs 1:22, Proverbs 1:23, Proverbs 8:4, Proverbs 8:5, Proverbs 9:4-6, Isaiah 55:1-3, Acts 13:46, 2 Corinthians 6:1

seeing: Proverbs 14:6, Proverbs 18:15, Proverbs 21:25, Proverbs 21:26, Deuteronomy 5:29, Psalms 81:11-13, Hosea 4:11, John 3:20, Acts 28:26, Acts 28:27

Reciprocal: Psalms 111:2 - that have Proverbs 4:5 - Get wisdom Proverbs 10:21 - wisdom Proverbs 15:32 - getteth understanding Proverbs 18:2 - fool Proverbs 19:8 - wisdom Proverbs 23:23 - Buy Ecclesiastes 10:2 - but Jeremiah 5:21 - understanding Hosea 7:11 - without Matthew 13:19 - and understandeth Matthew 13:44 - like Luke 7:32 - are Luke 7:35 - General Romans 1:28 - as they did 2 Peter 3:5 - they willingly

Cross-References

Genesis 1:28
blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.
Genesis 12:2
I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous, so that you will be a blessing.
Genesis 17:6
I will give you many descendants, and some of them will be kings. You will have so many descendants that they will become nations.
Genesis 17:10
You and your descendants must all agree to circumcise every male among you.
Genesis 17:14
Any male who has not been circumcised will no longer be considered one of my people, because he has not kept the covenant with me."
Genesis 17:26
They were both circumcised on the same day,
Genesis 24:60
And they gave Rebecca their blessing in these words: "May you, sister, become the mother of millions! May your descendants conquer the cities of their enemies!"
Genesis 35:11
And God said to him, "I am Almighty God. Have many children. Nations will be descended from you, and you will be the ancestor of kings.
Isaiah 49:23
Kings will be like fathers to you; queens will be like mothers. They will bow low before you and honor you; they will humbly show their respect for you. Then you will know that I am the Lord ; no one who waits for my help will be disappointed."
Romans 9:9
For God's promise was made in these words: "At the right time I will come back, and Sarah will have a son."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom,.... Natural wisdom and knowledge. By this "price" may be meant money, riches, worldly substance, of which a foolish man is possessed; by means of which he might purchase useful books for the improvement of his mind, and procure himself instructors that might be very useful to him; but instead of seeking after that which he most wants, and making use of his substance to furnish him with it, he spends it on his back and belly, in fine clothes and luxurious living; in rioting and drunkenness, in chambering and wantonness, at balls and plays, in taverns and brothel houses: or spiritual wisdom and knowledge; the means of which are reading the word, hearing the Gospel, frequent opportunities of attendance on a Gospel ministry, in season and out of season, and conversation with Gospel ministers and other Christians; but, instead of making use of these, he neglects, slights, and despises them. And it is asked, with some degree of indignation and admiration, why or to what purpose a fool is favoured with such means;

seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]? to wisdom; he does not desire it, nor to make use of the price or means, in order to obtain it; all is lost upon him; and it is hard to account for it why he should have this price, when he makes such an ill use of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

More literally: Why is there a price in the hand of a fool? Is it to get wisdom when he has no heart for it? No money will avail without the understanding heart.


 
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