King James Version

Proverbs 21:20

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

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Hebrew

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אוֹצָ֤רotsararmoryאוֹצָרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “armory”, the ordinary formH214a depositoryarmory, cellar, garner, store(-house), treasure(-house) (-y).נֶחְמָ֣דnechmaddelightחָמַדverb, niphal, participle, absolute — “delight”, a verb used as a describing wordH2530to delight inbeauty, greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing, ([idiom] great) delight, desire, goodly, lust, (be) pleasant (thing), precious (thing).וָ֭שֶׁמֶןvashemenand oliveשֶׁמֶןconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and olive”, the ordinary formH8081grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richnessanointing, [idiom] fat (things), [idiom] fruitful, oil(-ed), ointment, olive, [phrase] pine.בִּנְוֵ֣הbinvehin comelyנָוֶהpreposition, noun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “in comely”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5116(adjectively) at home; hence (by implication of satisfaction) lovely; also (noun) a home, of God (temple), men (residence), flocks (pasture), or wild animals (den)comely, dwelling (place), fold, habitation, pleasant place, sheepcote, stable, tarried.חָכָ֑םchakhamwise , manחָכָםadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “wise , man”, the ordinary formH2450wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).וּכְסִ֖ילukhesiland foolכְּסִילconjunction, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “and fool”, the ordinary formH3684properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or sillyfool(-ish).אָדָ֣םadampersonאָדָםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “person”, the ordinary formH120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)[idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּyevalenvdestroyבָּלַעverb, piel, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “destroy”, an unfinished actionH1104to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroycover, destroy, devour, eat up, be at end, spend up, swallow down (up).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.

Young’s Literal Translation

A treasure to be desired, and oil, [Is] in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swalloweth it up.

World English Bible

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.

Darby Translation

There is costly store and oil in the dwelling of a wise [man]; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.

Douay-Rheims

There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just: and the foolish man shall spend it.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Θησαυρὸς ἐπιθυμητὸς ἀναπαύσεται ἐπὶ στόματος σοφοῦ, ἄφρονες δὲ ἄνδρες καταπίονται αὐτόν.