Better is a little with righteousness,.... Gotten in a righteous way, held by a righteous claim, used in a righteous manner, attended with a life of righteousness and holiness; and also along with an interest in the righteousness of Christ, which renders acceptable unto God, yields peace and comfort, and entitles to eternal glory and happiness. A truly righteous man may have but little of this world's goods; but his small pittance is better
than great revenues without right; obtained in an unjust way; detained from the right owner of them, and used in an unrighteous manner, in a course of sin and wickedness: or, "without judgment" (e); how to make use of them aright, and without a righteousness that will justify them at the day of judgment; See Gill on Proverbs 15:16. A little the true church of Christ enjoys in the wilderness; having Christ and his grace, Christ and his righteousness, is better than all the revenues of the church of Rome gotten by the unlawful methods they are; and which, in one hour will come to nought, Revelation 18:17.
(e) "absque judicio", Pagninus, Montanus.

A small estate, honestly come by, will turn to better account than a great estate ill-gotten.

(Compare Proverbs 15:6, Proverbs 15:16-17).

Five proverbs of the king, together with three of righteousness in action and conduct:
8 Better is a little with righteousness,
Than rich revenues with unrighteousness.
The cogn. proverb Proverbs 15:16 commences similarly. Of רב תּבוּאות, multitude or greatness of income, vid., Proverbs 14:4 : "unrighteous wealth profits not." The possessor of it is not truly happy, for sin cleaves to it, which troubles the heart (conscience), and because the enjoyment which it affords is troubled by the curses of those who are injured, and by the sighs of the oppressed. Above all other gains rises ἡ εὐσέβεια μετ ̓ αὐταρκείας (1-Timothy 6:6).