Proverbs 16:16

NETBible

How much better it is to acquire 1  wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable 2  than silver.

NIV ©

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!

NASB ©

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

NLT ©

How much better to get wisdom than gold, and understanding than silver!

MSG ©

Get wisdom--it's worth more than money; choose insight over income every time.

BBE ©

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.

NRSV ©

How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

NKJV ©

How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

KJV
How much better
<02896>
[is it] to get
<07069> (8800)
wisdom
<02451>
than gold
<02742>_!
and to get
<07069> (8800)
understanding
<0998>
rather to be chosen
<0977> (8737)
than silver
<03701>_!
NASB ©
How
<4100>
much better
<2896>
it is to get
<7069>
wisdom
<2451>
than
<4480>
gold
<2742>
! And to get
<7069>
understanding
<998>
is to be chosen
<977>
above
<4480>
silver
<3701>
.
LXXM
nossiai
<3555> 
N-NPF
sofiav
<4678> 
N-GSF
airetwterai {A-NPFC} crusiou
<5553> 
N-GSN
nossiai
<3555> 
N-NPF
de
<1161> 
PRT
fronhsewv
<5428> 
N-GSF
airetwterai {A-NPFC} uper
<5228> 
PREP
argurion
<694> 
N-ASN
NET [draft] ITL
How
<04100>
much better
<02896>
it is to acquire
<07069>
wisdom
<02451>
than gold
<02742>
; to acquire
<07069>
understanding
<0998>
is more desirable
<0977>
than silver
<03701>
.
HEBREW
Pokm
<03701>
rxbn
<0977>
hnyb
<0998>
twnqw
<07069>
Uwrxm
<02742>
bwj
<02896>
hm
<04100>
hmkx
<02451>
hnq (16:16)
<07069>
NETBible

How much better it is to acquire 1  wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable 2  than silver.

NET Notes

1 tn The form קְנֹה (qÿnoh) is an infinitive; the Greek version apparently took it as a participle, and the Latin as an imperative – both working with an unpointed קנה, the letter ה (he) being unexpected in the form if it is an infinitive construct (the parallel clause has קְנוֹת [qÿnot] for the infinitive, but the ancient versions also translate that as either a participle or an imperative).

2 tn The form is a Niphal participle, masculine singular. If it is modifying “understanding” it should be a feminine form. If it is to be translated, it would have to be rendered “and to acquire understanding is to be chosen more than silver” (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB). Many commentaries consider it superfluous. NIV and NCV simply have “to choose understanding rather than silver!”