How much better it is to acquire ¹  wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable ²  than silver.

biblegateway Pro 16:16

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

Acquire wisdom--how much better it is than gold! And acquire understanding--it is preferable to silver.

How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold, and the gaining of understanding should be chosen over silver.

biblegateway Pro 16:16

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!

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

bibleoremus Pro 16:16

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

How much better than gold it is to get wisdom, and to gain discernment is more desirable than silver.

biblegateway Pro 16:16

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

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

biblegateway Pro 16:16

How much better it is to acquire ¹  wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable ²  than silver.

¹ tn The form קְנֹה (qÿnoh) is an infinitive; the Greek version apparently took it as a participle, and the Latin as an imperative – both working with an unpointed קנה, the letter ה (he) being unexpected in the form if it is an infinitive construct (the parallel clause has קְנוֹת [qÿnot] for the infinitive, but the ancient versions also translate that as either a participle or an imperative).

² tn The form is a Niphal participle, masculine singular. If it is modifying “understanding” it should be a feminine form. If it is to be translated, it would have to be rendered “and to acquire understanding is to be chosen more than silver” (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB). Many commentaries consider it superfluous. NIV and NCV simply have “to choose understanding rather than silver!”