Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, January 11th, 2025
Saturday after Epiphany
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

New Century Version

Proverbs 17:16

It won't do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom, because he doesn't have the ability to be wise.

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

English Standard Version
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?
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?
Easy-to-Read Version
Money is wasted on fools. They cannot buy wisdom when they have no sense.
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?
American Standard Version
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
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?
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?
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?
Berean Standard Bible
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying 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 ?
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.
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.
George Lamsa Translation
What good is wealth in the possession of a fool who has no desire to acquire wisdom?
Good News Translation
It does a fool no good to spend money on an education, because he has no common sense.
New American Standard Bible
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?
King James Version
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, 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?
New Revised Standard
Why should fools have a price in hand to buy wisdom, when they have no mind 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?
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.
Young's Literal Translation
Why [is] this -- a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
World English Bible
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he has no understanding?
Revised Standard Version
Why should a fool have a price in his hand to buy wisdom, when he has no mind?
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]?
Bible in Basic English
How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
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?
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?
Legacy Standard Bible
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom,When he has no heart of wisdom?

Contextual Overview

16 It won't do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom, because he doesn't have the ability to be wise.

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
God blessed them and said, "Have many children and grow in number. Fill the earth and be its master. Rule over the fish in the sea and over the birds in the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Genesis 12:2
I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.
Genesis 17:6
I will give you many descendants. New nations will be born from you, and kings will come from you.
Genesis 17:10
This is my agreement with you and all your descendants, which you must obey: Every male among you must be circumcised.
Genesis 17:14
Any male who is not circumcised will be cut off from his people, because he has broken my agreement."
Genesis 17:26
Abraham and his son were circumcised on the same day.
Genesis 24:60
They blessed Rebekah and said, "Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of people, and may your descendants capture the cities of their enemies."
Genesis 35:11
God said to him, "I am God Almighty. Have many children and grow in number as a nation. You will be the ancestor of many nations and kings.
Isaiah 49:23
Kings will teach your children, and daughters of kings will take care of them. They will bow down before you and kiss the dirt at your feet. Then you will know I am the Lord . Anyone who trusts in me will not be disappointed."
Romans 9:9
God's promise to Abraham was this: "At the right time I will return, 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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile