Proverbs 16:16 (YLT)

Passage

To get wisdom--how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:14 The fury of a king <FI>is<Fi> messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it.

Proverbs 16:15 In the light of a king's face <FI>is<Fi> life, And his good-will <FI>is<Fi> as a cloud of the latter rain.

Proverbs 16:16 To get wisdom--how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!

Proverbs 16:17 A highway of the upright <FI>is<Fi> , `Turn from evil,' Whoso is preserving his soul is watching his way.

Proverbs 16:18 Before destruction <FI>is<Fi> pride, And before stumbling--a haughty spirit.'

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wisdom--how", "much", "better", "than", "gold", "understanding", and "chosen". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wisdom--how" and "much", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "In the light of a king's face..." into verse 17's "A highway of the upright FI is...", so "wisdom--how" and "much" 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 "wisdom--how" and "much" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.