Proverbs 15:17 (GNV)

Passage

Better is a dinner of greene herbes where loue is, then a stalled oxe and hatred therewith.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:15 All the dayes of the afflicted are euill: but a good conscience is a continuall feast.

Proverbs 15:16 Better is a litle with the feare of the Lord, then great treasure, and trouble therewith.

Proverbs 15:17 Better is a dinner of greene herbes where loue is, then a stalled oxe and hatred therewith.

Proverbs 15:18 An angrie man stirreth vp strife: but hee that is slowe to wrath, appeaseth strife.

Proverbs 15:19 The way of a slouthfull man is as an hedge of thornes: but the way of the righteous is plaine.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "better", "dinner", "greene", "herbes", "where", "loue", "stalled", and "hatred". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "better" and "dinner", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "Better is a litle with the feare..." into verse 18's "An angrie man stirreth vp strife but...", so "better" and "dinner" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "better" and "dinner" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.