for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
Parallel translations
- WEB For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
- KJV For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
- NKJV For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.
- NASB For her profit is better than the profit of silver, And her produce better than gold.
- NLT For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold.
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
Wisdom's profit is better than silver and its gain better than gold. It matters because it shows wisdom is more valuable than any wealth.
Overview
Wisdom's return surpasses the finest precious metals, a recurring comparison in Proverbs (cf. 2:4; 8:10-11). Material riches are good but cannot compare to the worth of wisdom. This priceless value points to Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 16:16How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
- Prov 8:19My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
- Job 28:13–19No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.
- Rev 3:18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
- Ps 119:111Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
- Ps 119:162I rejoice in Your promise like one who finds great spoil.
- 2 Chr 1:11–12God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for your enemies—and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king—
- Prov 8:10–11Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
- Matt 16:26What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Prov 2:4if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure,
- Ps 119:72The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
- Phil 3:8–9More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
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 3:14 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.