6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Perverse in his ways - literally, "Perverse in his double ways." Compare Ecclesiasticus 2:12 and James 1:8.
Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness,.... See Gill on Proverbs 19:1;
than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich; or, "in his two ways" (c): that halts between two ways, or makes use of both; sometimes turns to the one, to the right hand, and sometimes to the other, to the left hand; or that pretends to the one, and walks in the other; would be thought to be a virtuous and religious man, and to walk in the paths of righteousness and truth, when he walks in those of sin and wickedness. And now a poor man that walks evenly and uprightly, according to the word of God and truth of the Gospel, in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, and in the paths of faith and holiness, is better than he; more honourable, more comfortable, and happy in life and in death; he has grace now, and will have glory hereafter.
(c) Hebrews. "duabus viis", Piscator, Cocceius; "pervertens duas vias", Baynus; "duplici via", Michaelis; "gemina via", Schultens, so Ben Melech.
An honest, godly, poor man, is better than a wicked, ungodly, rich man; has more comfort in himself, and is a greater blessing to the world.
(Compare Proverbs 10:6). Riches cannot compensate for sin, nor the want of them affect integrity.
What is stated in this proverb is a conclusion from the preceding, with which it is also externally connected, for רשׁ (= ראשׁ), רשׁע, רע, and now רשׁ, follow each other:
Better a poor man who walketh in his innocence,
Than a double-going deceiver who is rich thereby.
A variation of Proverbs 19:1. Stainlessness, integritas vitae, as a consequence of unreserved devotion to God, gives to a man with poverty a higher worth and nobility than riches connected with falsehood which "halts between two opinions" (1-Kings 18:21), and appears to go one way, while in reality it goes another. The two ways דּדכים (cf. Sir. 2:12, οὐαί ἁμαρτωλῷ ἐπιβαίνοντι ἐπὶ δύο τρίβους) are, as Proverbs 28:18, not ways going aside to the right or to the left of the right way, but the evil way which the deceiver truly walks in, and the good way which he pretends to walk in (Fleischer); the two ways of action placed over against one another, by one of which he masks the other.
Better - In a much happier condition.
*More commentary available at chapter level.