Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
Parallel translations
- WEB There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
- KJV There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
- BSB Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
- NKJV There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.
- NASB There is precious treasure and oil in the home of the wise, But a foolish person swallows it up.
- NLT The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 wise store up treasure and provision, but a fool devours all he has. It matters because wisdom includes prudent saving and stewardship.
Overview
The wise person manages resources prudently, keeping reserves, while the fool consumes everything recklessly (Proverbs 13:22; 6:6-8). The verse commends foresight and good stewardship. Faithful management of what God provides is part of wise, God-honoring living.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Matt 25:3–4Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
- Eccl 5:19Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor — this is the gift of God.
- Ps 112:3Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever.
- Eccl 7:11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
- Prov 15:6In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
- Prov 10:22Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
- Ps 23:5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
- Luke 15:14When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
- Eccl 10:19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
- Luke 6:45The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.
- Matt 6:19–20“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
- Luke 16:1He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
- Jer 41:8But ten men were found among those who said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey.” So he stopped, and didn’t kill them among their brothers.
- Job 20:15He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
- Job 20:18That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
- Matt 25:8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
- Luke 16:19–25“Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 21:20 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.