16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

Other Translations of Proverbs 16:16-19

King James Version

16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

English Standard Version

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

The Message

16 Get wisdom - it's worth more than money; choose insight over income every time.

17 The road of right living bypasses evil; watch your step and save your life.

18 First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

19 It's better to live humbly among the poor than to live it up among the rich and famous.

New King James Version

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

New Living Translation

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver!

17 The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.

18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

19 Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 16:16-19

Commentary on Proverbs 16:16

(Read Proverbs 16:16)

There is joy and satisfaction of spirit, only in getting wisdom.

Commentary on Proverbs 16:17

(Read Proverbs 16:17)

A sincerely religious man keeps at a distance from every appearance of evil. Happy is the man that walks in Christ, and is led by the Spirit of Christ.

Commentary on Proverbs 16:18

(Read Proverbs 16:18)

When men defy God's judgments, and think themselves far from them, it is a sign they are at the door. Let us not fear the pride of others, but fear pride in ourselves.

Commentary on Proverbs 16:19-20

(Read Proverbs 16:19-20)

Humility, though it exposes to contempt in the world, is much better than high-spiritedness, which makes God an enemy. He that understands God's word shall find good.