Poor and rich
Proverbs 16:19 KJV
Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly,
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
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Other translations
New International Version
Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
New Living Translation
Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.
English Standard Version
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Berean Study Bible
It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
New King James Version
Better [to be] of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
New American Standard Bible
It is better to be humble in spirit with the needy Than to divide the spoils with the proud.
Amplified Bible
It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud (haughty, arrogant).
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This verse is connected in thought, as well as verbally, with the preceding.
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly.
The followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, whose spirits are humbled under a sense of sin;
▪︎ have mean thoughts of themselves and their own righteousness,
▪︎ submit to the righteousness of the Son of God,
▪︎ wholly trust in him for salvation;
▪︎ and ascribe all they have and are to the free grace of God;
▪︎ They humble themselves under the mighty hand of God;
▪︎ are resigned to his will,
▪︎ patiently bear all afflictions without murmuring,
▪︎ think better of others than themselves:
These are not in so much danger of falling as the proud and haughty,
▪︎ are more grateful to men,
▪︎ acceptable to God;
- With these He vouches to dwell;
- to these He gives more grace,
- and these shall inherit the earth.
Wherefore it is better to be of such a spirit, and be ranked among and keep company with the meek and lowly.
The Revised Version has, with the poor; but “meek” or “lowly” better contrasts with “proud” of the second clause.
Psalms 84:10
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
- The spoils of the poor with proud oppressors;
- or spoils gotten in war with proud and ambitious princes;
- or the spoils of kingdoms and states with antichrist, divided by him among his proud followers:
It is far better to be the followers of Christ, and have but little, than to be his, and have ever so much.
To share in the fruits of the operations and pursuits of the proud, and to enjoy their pleasures,
▪︎ a man must cast in his lot with them,
▪︎ undergo their risks and anxieties,
▪︎ and participate in the crimes by which they gain their wealth.
The result of such association was told in Proverbs 16:18.
- The Germans express the connection between abundance and folly by the terse apothegm, “Voll, toll;” “Full, fool.”
- Septuagint, “Better is the man of gentle mind with humility, than he who divideth spoil with the violent.”
Divide the spoil
That is, conquer.
Avoid the society of the proud (James 4:6).
Hebrew
It is better ☆ ט֣וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) ☆ Adjective – masculine singular ☆ Pleasant, agreeable, good
To be lowly ☆ שְׁפַל־ (šə·p̄al-) ☆ Verb – Qal – Infinitive construct ☆ Depressed
In spirit ☆ ר֭וּחַ (rū·aḥ) ☆ Noun – common singular ☆ Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit
Among ☆ אֶת־ (’eṯ-) ☆ Preposition ☆ Nearness, near, with, by, at, among
The humble ☆ עֲנָוִ֑ים (‘ă·nā·wîm) ☆ Adjective – masculine plural ☆ Poor, afflicted, humble
Than to divide ☆ מֵֽחַלֵּ֥ק (mê·ḥal·lêq) ☆ Preposition-m | Verb – Piel – Infinitive construct ☆ To be smooth, to apportion, separate
The spoil ☆ שָׁ֝לָ֗ל (lāl) ☆ Noun – masculine singular ☆ A prey, spoil, plunder, booty
With ☆ אֶת־ (’eṯ-) ☆ Preposition ☆ Nearness, near, with, by, at, among
The proud ☆ גֵּאִֽים׃ (gê·’îm) ☆ Adjective – masculine plural ☆ Lofty, arrogant
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