There is treasure in the house of the godly, but the earnings of the wicked bring 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.
- BSB The house of the righteous has great treasure, but the income 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.
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 8:21That I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
- Prov 21:20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
- Prov 10:22Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
- Ps 112:3Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever.
- Heb 11:26accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
- Prov 16:8Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
- Ps 37:16Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.
- Eccl 4:6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
- Prov 13:22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
- Job 20:19–23For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
- Prov 15:16Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble.
- Jas 5:1–3Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you.
- Eccl 5:10–14He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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.