The house of the righteous has great treasure, but the income of the wicked is trouble.
Parallel translations
- WEB In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
- KJV In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
- NKJV In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
- NASB Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
- NLT There is treasure in the house of the godly, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The righteous household holds true treasure, but the wicked's gains bring trouble. Integrity yields lasting good; ill-gotten wealth brings ruin.
Overview
This proverb contrasts the genuine and secure 'treasure' in the home of the righteous with the trouble that accompanies the income of the wicked. It is not wealth itself but its source and use that determines blessing or harm. The verse directs us toward the lasting treasure of a right relationship with God (Matthew 6:19-21).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Prov 8:21bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
- Prov 21:20Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
- Prov 10:22The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.
- Ps 112:3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
- Heb 11:26He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
- Prov 16:8Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
- Ps 37:16Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.
- Eccl 4:6Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
- Prov 13:22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
- Job 20:19–23For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
- Prov 15:16Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
- Jas 5:1–3Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
- Eccl 5:10–14He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 15:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.