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Read the Bible

King James Version

Proverbs 21:20

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Extravagance;   Fool;   Frugality;   Prudence;   Treasure;   Wisdom;   Thompson Chain Reference - Frugality;   Frugality-Waste;   Improvidence;   Pleasure, Worldly;   Prodigality;   Self-Indulgence-Self-Denial;   Worldly;   The Topic Concordance - Foolishness;   Wisdom;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Motives;   Oil;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, Book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Desire;   Fool;   Oil;   Treasure;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Folly and Fool;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person,but a fool consumes them.
Hebrew Names Version
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swallows it up.
English Standard Version
Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
New American Standard Bible
There is precious treasure and oil in the home of the wise, But a foolish person swallows it up.
New Century Version
Wise people's houses are full of the best foods and olive oil, but fools waste everything they have.
Amplified Bible
There is precious treasure and oil in the house of the wise [who prepare for the future], But a short-sighted and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it.
World English Bible
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swallows it up.
Geneva Bible (1587)
In the house of the wise is a pleasant treasure and oyle: but a foolish man deuoureth it.
Legacy Standard Bible
There is desirable treasure and oil in the abode of the wise,But a foolish man swallows it up.
Berean Standard Bible
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
Contemporary English Version
Be sensible and store up precious treasures— don't waste them like a fool.
Complete Jewish Bible
In the home of the wise are fine treasures and oil, but a fool quickly devours it.
Darby Translation
There is costly store and oil in the dwelling of a wise [man]; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Easy-to-Read Version
Wise people save the nice things they have. Fools use up everything as soon as they get it.
George Lamsa Translation
A coveted treasure and ointment are in a dwelling place; but the wisdom and understanding of men shall dispense it.
Good News Translation
Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.
Lexham English Bible
Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise, but the foolish person will devour them.
Literal Translation
A desirable treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
In a wyse mans house there is greate treasure and plenteousnesse, but a foolish body spendeth vp all.
American Standard Version
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Bible in Basic English
There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
King James Version (1611)
There is treasure to be desired, and oyle in the dwelling of the wise: but a foolish man spendeth it vp.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In a wise mans house there is a great treasure and oyle: but a foolishe body spendeth vp all.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
English Revised Version
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Desirable tresoure and oile is in the dwelling places of a iust man; and an vnprudent man schal distrie it.
Update Bible Version
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But [a] foolish man swallows it up.
Webster's Bible Translation
[There is] a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
New English Translation
There is desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person devours all he has.
New King James Version
There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.
New Living Translation
The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.
New Life Bible
There are riches and oil of great worth in the house of the wise, but a foolish man swallows them up.
New Revised Standard
Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise, but the fool devours it.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Desirable treasure and oil, are in the home of the wise, but, a man who is a dullard, will destroy it.
Douay-Rheims Bible
There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just: and the foolish man shall spend it.
Revised Standard Version
Precious treasure remains in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
Young's Literal Translation
A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swalloweth it up.
THE MESSAGE
Valuables are safe in a wise person's home; fools put it all out for yard sales.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up.

Contextual Overview

20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

treasure: Proverbs 10:22, Proverbs 15:6, Psalms 112:3, Ecclesiastes 5:19, Ecclesiastes 7:11, Ecclesiastes 10:19, Matthew 6:19, Matthew 6:20, Luke 6:45

oil: Psalms 23:5, Jeremiah 41:8, Matthew 25:3, Matthew 25:4

but: Matthew 25:3, Matthew 25:4, Matthew 25:8, Luke 15:14, Luke 16:1, Luke 16:19-25

Reciprocal: Proverbs 14:11 - the tabernacle Proverbs 21:17 - loveth Proverbs 24:4 - General Proverbs 28:10 - but Proverbs 29:3 - he Luke 15:13 - wasted

Cross-References

Genesis 10:9
He was a mighty hunter before the Lord : wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord .
Genesis 16:12
And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
Genesis 17:20
And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 21:2
For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
Genesis 21:3
And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
Genesis 21:23
Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
Genesis 21:24
And Abraham said, I will swear.
Genesis 21:25
And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
Genesis 25:27
And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
Genesis 27:3
Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

[There is] a treasure to be desired,.... Gold, silver, jewels, and precious stones; all sorts food, as Aben Ezra explains it, and rich and costly, raiment; all which may be lawfully desired and sought after, and, when obtained, laid up for future use; which may be spared for their own service and that of posterity: but there are riches of grace, a pearl of great price and treasure in heaven, more desirable than these, Matthew 6:19;

and oil in the dwelling of the wise; which is particularly mentioned, because a principal blessing of the land of Canaan; much used for food, and was for delight and refreshment: and something of this was in the house of every wise, provident, and industrious man, for the use of him and his family; even though he lived but in a "cottage", as the word f signifies this is an emblem of the grace of God, which is sometimes compared to oil; which a wise man is chiefly concerned, that it may be in his heart, in his house, and in his family;

but a foolish man spendeth it up; the oil; he swallows it up at once, as soon as he has got it, and wastes and lavishes away what his wise father had provided for him. This may refer not to oil only, but to the desired treasure, wealth, riches, substance of every sort, he is heir to and becomes possessed of; and which, in a spiritual sense, may be applied to a foolish wicked man, who misspends his time, neglects the means of grace, and all opportunities by which men grow rich and wise in spiritual things; see Matthew 25:1.

f נוה "tuguirolum", Mercerus, Gejerus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Spendeth it up - literally, swalloweth it. The wise man keeps a store in reserve. He gains uprightly, spends moderately, never exhausts himself. But the proverb may have also a higher application. The wise man stores up all “treasure to be desired” of wisdom, all “oil” of divine influence, which strengthens and refreshes, and so is ready at all times for the work to which the Master calls him. Compare Matthew 25:1-13.


 
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