Proverbs 16:8

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

Proverbs 16:8. Better is a little, &c. — A small estate, honestly gotten and usefully employed, is much to be preferred before vast incomes, gathered by oppression, and kept without the exercise of mercy and charity. This was, in effect, said before, Proverbs 15:16, (where see the note,) and is here repeated, partly because of the great importance and usefulness of this truth, and partly because men are very hardly brought to a serious belief of it.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:4. God makes use of the wicked to execute righteous vengeance on each other; and he will be glorified by their destruction at last. 5. Though sinners strengthen themselves and one another, they shall not escape God's judgments. 6. By the mercy and truth of God in Christ Jesus, the sins of believers are taken away, and the power of sin is broken. 7. He that has all hearts in his hand, can make a man's enemies to be at peace with him. 8. A small estate, honestly come by, will turn to better account than a great estate ill-gotten. 9. If men make God's glory their end, and his will their rule, he will direct their steps by his Spirit and grace. 10. Let kings and judges of the earth be just, and rule in the fear of God. 11. To observe justice in dealings between man and man is God's appointment.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Goodness has power to charm and win even enemies to itself.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8. (Compare Pr 15:6, 16, 17).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

This was in effect said before, Proverbs 15:16, and is here repeated, partly because of the great importance and usefulness of this truth, and partly because men are very hardly brought to a serious belief of it.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

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.

Geneva Study Bible

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. without right] Rather, with injustice, R.V., as preserving better the parallelism. Comp. Proverbs 15:16.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - Better is a little with righteousness (Proverbs 15:16; Psalm 37:16). "Righteousness" may mean here a holy life or just dealing; as without right, or, with injustice, in the second clause, may refer either generally wickedness, or specially to fraud and oppression (Jeremiah 22:13). Says Theognis -

Βούλεο δ εὐσεβέων ὀλίγοις σὺν χρήμασιν οἰκεῖν
Η πλουτεῖν ἀδίκως χρήματα πασάμενος.

"Wish thou with scanty means pious to live,
Rather than rich with large, ill-gotten wealth." Another maxim says to the same effect -

Λεπτῶς καλῶς ζῇν κρεῖσσον η} λαμπρῶς κακῶς. Septuagint, "Better is small getting (λῆψις) with righteousness, than great revenues with iniquity" (see on Proverbs 15:29). Proverbs 16:8

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

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 PRomans 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).