Proverbs 28:6

6 Better to be poor and walk in integrity than to be crooked in one's ways even though rich.

Proverbs 28:6 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 28:6

Better [is] the poor that walketh in his uprightness
(See Gill on Proverbs 19:1); than [he that is] perverse [in his] ways, though he [be] rich;
or, "in [his] two ways" F3: that halts between two ways, or makes use of both; sometimes turns to the one, to the right hand, and sometimes to the other, to the left hand; or that pretends to the one, and walks in the other; would be thought to be a virtuous and religious man, and to walk in the paths of righteousness and truth, when he walks in those of sin and wickedness. And now a poor man that walks evenly and uprightly, according to the word of God and truth of the Gospel, in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, and in the paths of faith and holiness, is better than he; more honourable, more comfortable, and happy in life and in death; he has grace now, and will have glory hereafter.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 (Mykrd) Heb. "duabus viis", Piscator, Cocceius; "pervertens duas vias", Baynus; "duplici via", Michaelis; "gemina via", Schultens, so Ben Melech.

Proverbs 28:6 In-Context

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law struggle against them.
5 The evil do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
6 Better to be poor and walk in integrity than to be crooked in one's ways even though rich.
7 Those who keep the law are wise children, but companions of gluttons shame their parents.
8 One who augments wealth by exorbitant interest gathers it for another who is kind to the poor.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.