Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Parallel translations
- WEB Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
- BSB Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
- NKJV Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
- NASB Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity, Than a person who is crooked, though he is rich.
- NLT Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich.
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
An honest poor person is better than a crooked rich one. It teaches that integrity outweighs wealth gained through corruption.
Overview
The proverb plainly values the poor person of integrity over the wealthy person of perverse ways, reversing the world's measure of success. Righteousness, not riches, is the true mark of a blessed life. This echoes Christ's teaching that it profits nothing to gain the world while losing one's soul (Mark 8:36).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Prov 19:1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
- Prov 28:18Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
- Luke 16:19–23There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
- Prov 19:22The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
- Prov 16:8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
- Acts 24:24–27And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 28:6 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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