Proverbs 15:16 (YLT)

Passage

Better <FI>is<Fi> a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:14 The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly.

Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted <FI>are<Fi> evil, And gladness of heart <FI>is<Fi> a perpetual banquet.

Proverbs 15:16 Better <FI>is<Fi> a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.

Proverbs 15:17 Better <FI>is<Fi> an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.

Proverbs 15:18 A man of fury stirreth up contention, And the slow to anger appeaseth strife.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "better", "little", "fear", "jehovah", "than", "much", "treasure", and "tumult". 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 FI..." into verse 17's "Better FI is Fi an allowance of...", 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.