Proverbs 19:1

“Better [is] the poor that walketh in his integrity, etc.] In the uprightness of his heart before God and men; who is sincere in the worship of God, and in the profession of his name, and walks in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless; and is upright, harmless, and inoffensive in his conversation with men; and studies to exercise a conscience void of offence to both, and continues herein. A man may be a poor man with respect to worldly things, and yet be rich towards God; may be a truly gracious good man, honest, sincere, and upright in heart and life: and such an one is better than [he that] is perverse in his lips, and is a fool; that is, than a rich man, as the Syriac…”

“(Pro. 19:1-29) (Compare Pro 28:6). "Rich" for fool here. Integrity is better than riches (Pro 15:16-17; Pro 16:8).”

“The “perverse” man is the rich fool, as contrasted with the poor man who is upright. Proverbs 19:1-2 are missing in the Septuagint. return to 'Top of Page'”

“19:1 It is better to be . . . honest, though poor, because wealth gained by dishonest means is short-lived (10:2) and will not preserve one from harm (11:4; see also 15:16-17; 16:8, 16; 17:1; 22:1; 28:6).”

“Better: Pro 19:22, Pro 12:26, Pro 15:16, Pro 16:8, Pro 28:6; Psa 37:26; Mat 16:26; Jam 2:5, Jam 2:6 perverse: Sa1 25:17, Sa1 25:25; Isa 59:3; Mat 12:31-34 Proverbs 19:2”

“The plur. רעים, Pro 18:24, is emphatic and equivalent to רעים רבּים. The group Pro 19:1-4 closes with a proverb which contains this catchword. The first proverb of the group comes by שׂפתיו into contact with Pro 18:20, the first proverb of the preceding group. 1 Better a poor man walking in his innocence, Than one with perverse lips, and so a fool. The contrast, Pro 28:6, is much clearer. But to correct this proverb in conformity with that, as Hitzig does, is unwarrantable. The Syr., indeed, translates here as there; but the Chald. assimilates this translation to the Heb. text, which Theodotion, and after him the Syro-Hexapl., renders by ὑπὲρ στρεβλόχειλον ἄφρονα. But does 1a form a…”