Proverbs 17:16
Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
Leeser Tanakh
In The King James Version
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
In Context
17A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
Cross References
Psalms 81:11(81:12) But my people did not hearken to my voice; and Israel was not willing [to follow] me.
Proverbs 8:4Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
Proverbs 14:6A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
Proverbs 21:25The longing of the slothful will kill him; for his hands refuse to labor.
Isaiah 55:1Ho, every one of ye that thirsteth, come ye to the water, and he too that hath no money: come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy without money and without price wine and milk.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 17:16
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord . This shows what an offence it is to God, 1. When those that are entrusted with the administration of public justice, judges, juries, witnesses, prosecutors, counsel, do either acquit the guilty or condemn those that are not guilty, or in the least contribute to either; this defeats the end of government, which is to protect the good and punish the bad, Rom. xiii. 3, 4 . It is equally provoking to God to… Read the whole commentary →