Proverbs 22:4

4 Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 22:4 in Other Translations

4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

4 True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life.

4 The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.

4 The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah [Is] riches, and honor, and life.

4 On the heels of humility (the fear of the LORD) are riches and honor and life.

4 The result of humility is fear of the Lord, along with wealth, honor, and life.

4 Have respect for the LORD and don't be proud. That will bring you wealth and honor and life.

Proverbs 22:4 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 22:4

By humility [and] the fear of the Lord
Some render it, "the reward of humility, which [is] the fear of the Lord" ^F18; so the Targum; an humble man is blessed with it. Jarchi's note is,

``because of humility, the fear of the Lord comes;''

humility leads on to the fear of the Lord; he that behaves humbly towards man comes at length to fear the Lord, and be truly religious: though these are rather to be considered as the graces of the Spirit of God, which go together where there is one, there is the other; he that is humbled under a sense of sin, and his own unworthiness, fears the Lord; and he that fears the Lord, and his goodness, will walk humbly before him; they both flow from the grace of God, are very ornamental, and attended with the following happy consequences; [are] riches, and honour, and life;
spiritual riches, the riches of grace and glory; honour with God and men now, and everlasting life in the world to come.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (hwhy tary hwne bqe) "praemium mansuetudinis, quae est reverentia Jehovae", Schultens; "merces humilitatis timor Domini", Baynus; "praemium humilitatis est timor Domini": Tigurine version; so Vatablus, Mercerus, Cocceius.

Proverbs 22:4 In-Context

2 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.

3 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

4 Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.

5 In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Cross References

• 1. S Proverbs 15:33
• 2. S Proverbs 10:27; Daniel 4:36