There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
Parallel translations
- WEB There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows 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 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 25:3–4They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
- Eccl 5:19Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
- Ps 112:3Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
- Eccl 7:11Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
- Prov 15:6In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
- Prov 10:22The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
- Ps 23:5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
- Luke 15:14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
- Eccl 10:19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
- Luke 6:45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
- Matt 6:19–20Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
- Luke 16:1And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
- Jer 41:8But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.
- Job 20:15He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
- Job 20:18That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.
- Matt 25:8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
- Luke 16:19–25There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
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