Proverbs 15:16 (LSB)

Passage

Better is a little with the fear of Yahweh Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:14 The heart of the one who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, But a good heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:16 Better is a little with the fear of Yahweh Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

Proverbs 15:17 Better is a dish of vegetables where there is love Than a fattened ox and hatred in it.

Proverbs 15:18 A hot‑tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger quiets a dispute.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "better", "little", "fear", "yahweh", "than", "great", "treasure", and "turmoil". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "better" and "little", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "All the days of the afflicted are..." into verse 17's "Better is a dish of vegetables where...", so "better" and "little" 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 "little" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.