Scripture · Old Testament
Proverbs 17:16
Proverbs 17:16 is verse 16 of Proverbs chapter 17, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.
Berean Standard Bible
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
King James Version
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
World English Bible
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
Read in context
Proverbs 17:14–18 · Berean Standard Bible
14 To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
Read all of Proverbs 17Hebrew words
Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Study Proverbs 17:16
Cross-references
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.
Proverbs 1:22“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
Proverbs 1:23If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.
Proverbs 8:4“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
Proverbs 8:5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
Proverbs 9:4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
Proverbs 9:5“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
Proverbs 9:6Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
Isaiah 55:1“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!
Isaiah 55:2Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.
Isaiah 55:3Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant— My loving devotion promised to David.
Acts 13:46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
2 Corinthians 6:1As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
Proverbs 14:6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
Proverbs 18:15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
Proverbs 21:25The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
Proverbs 21:26All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
Deuteronomy 5:29If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever.
Psalms 81:11But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
Psalms 81:12So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
Psalms 81:13If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,
Hosea 4:11Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding.
John 3:20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Acts 28:26‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
Acts 28:27For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’