The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
Parallel translations
- WEB That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
- BSB The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.
- NKJV What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.
- NASB What is desirable in a person is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor person than a liar.
- NLT Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.
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
Loyal kindness is what makes a person desirable, and honest poverty beats deceitful wealth. Faithful love and integrity matter more than riches.
Overview
This proverb commends kindness or steadfast love as what makes a person truly attractive, and declares a poor man better than a liar. The verse is variously rendered, but its thrust honors loyal love and honesty above wealth gained by deceit. It reflects God's own steadfast love (chesed) and calls His people to value integrity and faithful kindness, supremely displayed in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Cor 8:12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
- 2 Chr 6:8But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:
- Mark 14:6–8And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
- Mark 12:41–44And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
- 2 Cor 8:2–3How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
- Prov 19:1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
- Titus 1:2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
- 1 Chr 29:2–3Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
- Ps 62:9Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
- 1 Chr 29:17I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
- Job 6:15My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
- Job 17:5He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
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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 19:22 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
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