Bible Strands
Psalms 37:16
Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses readers navigating a period where the wicked appear prosperous, immediately following a warning that their weapons will turn against them.
The words — The Hebrew מְעַט (me'at) means "little" and contrasts directly with הֲמֹן (hĕmôn), rendered here as "abundance" or "wealth."
The thread — This quantitative contrast between a small righteous portion and a large wicked accumulation appears in Proverbs 16:8 and Proverbs 15:16.
Why it lands — The text asserts that a small portion belonging to the righteous holds greater value than the wealth of numerous wicked people. Readers must therefore measure worth by moral standing rather than material accumulation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 16:8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
- Proverbs 15:16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
- 1 Timothy 6:6 Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
- Proverbs 13:25 A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.
- Proverbs 3:33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
- Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
- Proverbs 30:9 Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
- Ecclesiastes 2:26 To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.