Proverbs 17:16
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
KJV
Quid prodest stulto habere divitias, cum sapientiam emere non possit ? Qui altum facit domum suam quærit ruinam, et qui evitat discere incidet in mala.
Vulgate
ἵνα τί ὑπῆρξεν χρήματα ἄφρονι; κτήσασθαι γὰρ σοφίαν ἀκάρδιος· οὐ δυνήσεται. ὃς ὑψηλὸν ποιεῖ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ οἶκον ζητεῖ συντριβήν, ὁ δὲ σκολιάζων τοῦ μαθεῖν ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς κακά.
LXX
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
ASV
לָ/מָּה זֶּ֣ה מְחִ֣יר בְּ/יַד כְּסִ֑יל לִ/קְנ֖וֹת חָכְמָ֣ה וְ/לֶב אָֽיִן
Hebrew
Open in reader with connections →
In the original Hebrew
9 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.
Historic Christian voices
4 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
Cross-references
- 2Cor 6:1 — We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
- Acts 28:26 — Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
- Deut 5:29 — O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
- Eccl 10:2 — A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
- Jer 5:21 — Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
- Luke 7:32 — They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
- Luke 7:35 — But wisdom is justified of all her children.
- Matt 13:19 — When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
- Matt 13:44 — Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
- Prov 1:2 — To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
- Prov 4:5 — Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
- Prov 8:4 — Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
- Prov 10:21 — The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
- Prov 18:2 — A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
- Prov 18:15 — The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
- Prov 21:25 — The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
- Prov 23:23 — Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
- Prov 23:23 — Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
- Ps 111:2 — The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
- Rom 1:28 — And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;