Proverbs 19:22

22 What a person desires is unfailing love^[a] ; better to be poor than a liar.

Proverbs 19:22 in Other Translations

22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.

22 Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.

22 It's only human to want to make a buck, but it's better to be poor than a liar.

22 A man's desire should be loyalty to the covenant; better to be a poor man than a perjurer.

Proverbs 19:22 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:22

The desire of a man [is] his kindness
Either the grace and kindness of God, which is, desirable by every sensible man, as being most excellent, and better than life and anything in it; or it is his desire to show kindness. A good man is desirous of riches, that he might have it in the power of his hands to do good to others; and a beneficent man, who has it in his power, is desirous of an opportunity of showing kindness to his fellow creatures and friends; and such a disposition and conduct render a man very desirable and amiable; it is the beauty of a man, as Ben Melech; yea, a man that is not able to do a kindness to another, yet has a desire to do it, his good will is his kindness, and the will is taken for the deed. Gersom takes the word in the sense of "reproach", as it is sometimes used; and understands it of the sinful desires of the heart, the imaginations of the thoughts of the heart, which are evil continually, and so matter of reproach; and a poor man [is] better than a liar;
who is a rich man, as the Septuagint and Syriac versions add; who denies that he has ability to relieve the poor, when he has; or promises to do it, and does it not; such men of high degree are a lie indeed! and the poor man, whom he should relieve, is a better man than he; or that would relieve another, but it is not in his power to do it.

Proverbs 19:22 In-Context

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

22 What a person desires is unfailing love ; better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "Greed is a person’s shame"