Proverbs 28:6
New English Translation
6 A poor person[a] who walks in his integrity is better
than one who is perverse in his ways[b] even though[c] he is rich.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:6 sn This chapter gives a lot of attention to the contrast between the poor and the rich, assuming an integrity for the poor that is not present with the rich; the subject is addressed in vv. 6, 8, 11, 20, 22, 25, and 27 (G. A. Chutter, “Riches and Poverty in the Book of Proverbs,” Crux 18 [1982]: 23-28).
- Proverbs 28:6 tn The Hebrew term translated “ways” is in the dual, suggesting that the person has double ways, i.e., he is hypocritical. C. H. Toy does not like this idea and changes the form to the plural (Proverbs [ICC], 497), but his emendation is gratuitous and should be rejected.
- Proverbs 28:6 tn Heb “and he is rich.” Many English versions treat this as a concessive clause (cf. KJV “though he be rich”).
- Proverbs 28:6 sn This is another “better” saying, contrasting a poor person who has integrity with a rich person who is perverse. Of course there are rich people with integrity and perverse poor people, but that is not of interest here. If it came to the choices described here, honest poverty is better than corrupt wealth.
Proverbs 28:6
New Living Translation
6 Better to be poor and honest
than to be dishonest and rich.
Proverbs 28:19
New English Translation
19 The one who works his land will be satisfied with food,[a]
but whoever chases daydreams[b] will have his fill[c] of poverty.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:19 tn Or “will have plenty of food” (Heb “bread”); so NAB, NASB, NCV.
- Proverbs 28:19 tn Heb “empty things” or “vain things”; NRSV “follows worthless pursuits.” sn Prosperity depends on diligent work and not on chasing empty dreams. The proverb is essentially the same as Prov 12:11 except for the last expression.
- Proverbs 28:19 tn The repetition of the verb strengthens the contrast. Both halves of the verse use the verb יִשְׂבַּע (yisbaʿ, “will be satisfied; will be filled with; will have enough”). It is positive in the first colon, but negative in the second—with an ironic twist to say one is “satisfied” with poverty.
Proverbs 28:19
New Living Translation
19 A hard worker has plenty of food,
but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.
Proverbs 28:25
New English Translation
25 The greedy person[a] stirs up dissension,[b]
but the one who trusts[c] in the Lord will prosper.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:25 tn Heb “wide of soul.” This is an idiom meaning “a greedy person.” The term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, traditionally, “soul”) has here its more basic meaning of appetites (a person is a soul, a bundle of appetites; BDB 660 s.v. 5.a). It would mean “wide of appetite” (רְהַב־נֶפֶשׁ, rehav nefesh) thus “greedy.”
- Proverbs 28:25 sn Greed “stirs up” the strife. This individual’s attitude and actions stir up dissension because people do not long tolerate him.
- Proverbs 28:25 tn The construction uses the participle בּוֹטֵחַ (boteakh) followed by עַל־יְהוָה (ʿal yehvah), which gives the sense of “relying confidently on the Lord.” This is the antithesis of the greedy person who pushes to get what he desires.
- Proverbs 28:25 tn The verb דָּשֵׁן (dashen) means “to be fat,” and in the Piel/Pual stems “to make fat/to be made fat” (cf. KJV, ASV). The idea of being “fat” was symbolic of health and prosperity—the one who trusts in the Lord will be abundantly prosperous and fully gratified (cf. NRSV “will be enriched”).
Proverbs 28:25
New Living Translation
25 Greed causes fighting;
trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.
Proverbs 28:27
New English Translation
27 The one who gives to the poor will not lack,[a]
but whoever shuts his eyes to them[b] will receive[c] many curses.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:27 sn The generous individual will be rewarded. He will not lack nor miss what he has given away to the poor.
- Proverbs 28:27 tn Heb “hides his eyes”; “to them” is supplied in the translation to indicate the link with the poor in the preceding line. Hiding or closing the eyes is a metonymy of cause or of adjunct, indicating a decision not to look on and thereby help the poor. It could also be taken as an implied comparison, i.e., not helping the poor is like closing the eyes to them.
- Proverbs 28:27 tn The term “receives” is not in the Hebrew text but is implied, and is supplied in the translation.
- Proverbs 28:27 sn The text does not specify the nature or the source of the curses. It is natural to think that they would be given by the poor who are being mistreated and ignored. Far from being praised for their contributions to society, selfish, stingy people will be reviled for their heartless indifference.
Proverbs 28:27
New Living Translation
27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.
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