Proverbs 28:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

NIV: Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.

NASB: Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity, Than a person who is crooked, though he is rich.

CSB: Better the poor person who lives with integrity than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.

NLT: Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich.

KJV: Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

NKJV: Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Solomon (Proverbs 25:1) nearly repeats a lesson given earlier in this book (Proverbs 19:1). This is a consistent theme in the Bible: it is better to be right with God and lacking in worldly goods or accolades than to have material comfort and be spiritually doomed (Proverbs 16:19; 19:22; 22:2; Matthew 16:26; 19:23).

The Hebrew word iq'qēs can be translated as "perverse" as well as "crooked." The term implies something being twisted, manipulated, or warped. In this context, that can refer to dishonest business practices or blatant corruption. A person gaining wealth that way might think they are better off, but they cannot escape spiritual judgment through money. If the dishonest person tries to claim their finances and faith are separate, Scripture disagrees. Matthew 6:24 quotes Jesus as saying, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

The mere risk of giving up earthly comfort can make people hesitant to accept the gospel. In the New Testament, a rich man claimed he'd done everything he could for God when asking Jesus about salvation (Luke 18:18–21). Jesus challenged the man to give up his money (Luke 18:22). Instead of obeying, the man became sad and walked away from Christ (Luke 18:23; Matthew 19:22). Wealth is compatible with faith—but unless faith is more important than wealth, it is not saving faith (Luke 9:23–25; Matthew 19:29).

This passage features many direct contrasts. The lessons are attributed to Solomon, later compiled into the Book of Proverbs by men under king Hezekiah (Proverbs 25:1). Common themes in this chapter are work ethic, generosity, fairness, and reputation. Comments on rulers or leaders make up many of the teachings recorded in this section.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.