Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
Parallel translations
- KJV Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
- BSB Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
- NKJV Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
- NASB Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity Than a person who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
- NLT Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Integrity in poverty is better than dishonest folly. Character matters more than wealth.
Overview
This proverb declares the poor person who walks in integrity better off than the perverse-lipped fool, even if the latter prospers. It reorders worldly values, prizing godly character above status and possessions. The theme recurs in Proverbs (cf. 28:6) and aligns with Jesus' teaching that gaining the world while losing one's soul profits nothing (Mark 8:36).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Prov 28:6Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
- Prov 16:8Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
- Matt 16:26For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
- Prov 19:22That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
- Prov 14:2He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
- Prov 20:7A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
- Prov 15:16Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble.
- Isa 59:3For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity. Your lips have spoken lies. Your tongue mutters wickedness.
- Jas 2:5–6Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?
- Ps 37:26All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.
- Prov 12:26A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
- Ps 26:11But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me, and be merciful to me.
- 1 Sam 25:25Please don’t let my lord pay attention to this worthless fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men, whom you sent.
- Matt 12:31–34Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
- 1 Sam 25:17Now therefore know and consider what you will do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house; for he is such a worthless fellow that one can’t speak to him.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 19:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.