Proverbs 28:6

6 It's better to be poor and direct than rich and crooked.

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.

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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 If you desert God's law, you're free to embrace depravity; if you love God's law, you fight for it tooth and nail.

5 Justice makes no sense to the evilminded; those who seek God know it inside and out.

6 It's better to be poor and direct than rich and crooked.

7 Practice God's law - get a reputation for wisdom; hang out with a loose crowd - embarrass your family.

8 Get as rich as you want through cheating and extortion, But eventually some friend of the poor is going to give it all back to them.