1 Better a poor person who lives with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool. 2-3 Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins. A person’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

6-7 Many seek a ruler’s favour, and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts. All the brothers of a poor person hate him how much more do his friends keep their distance from him! He may pursue them with words, but they are not there.

8 The one who acquires good sense loves himself; one who safeguards understanding finds success. 9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes. Proverbs 19:1-9 Christian Standard Bible

Being poor brings many hardships. Apart from hunger and cold, what is another trial that poor people can experience? (vs 4 & 6-7)

People who are rich and able to give gifts to others seldom lack friends. (This doesn't guarantee loyal friendships, only that there will be many friends!) Verse 4 could be the result of someone who has lost his wealth and so friends have fled. But vs 6-7 suggest that family as well as one time friends can fall away when someone becomes dependent on them. When they see the poor person coming they immediately assume he is going to need a loan – which they will never see again. So poverty can lead to loneliness. The writer isn't making a judgement on poor people, just stating what is often the case. His intention may even have been to warn others of the misery of poverty and encourage them to work hard so as not to end up like that. I say that because later in this chapter, in vs 15, he goes on to say: “Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry.”

But there’s something worse than being poor. Did you spot what that is?

Verse 1 says that a poor person with integrity is better than a person who is foolish and deceitful. A humble honest labourer will always be a better person than a wealthy businessman who is dishonest. And then, twice, the writer says that false witnesses will come to a bitter end. (vs 5-9) He may’ve been warning poor people to not be bribed into giving false evidence. Better poor and honest than rewarded for dishonesty.

Do verses 2-3 and 8 suggest some things that would keep people from foolish acts which can lead to disaster, and even poverty?

Those who neglect gaining knowledge in life (or good advice from others) are apt to make hasty and rash decisions which are often sinful and lead them astray. Notice how the writer says that, while it was their own foolishness that caused their ruin, such people can be quick to rage against God as if it is His fault. So verse 8 then is the real key to guard ourselves against both the physical and spiritual poverty that can come from bad choices in life. Make the effort to gain the sort of knowledge that will lead to sensible decisions. People with understanding wisely avoid the sort of foolishness that leads to sorrow.

The best place to gain true knowledge and understanding will always be God's word – and God's word will always lead us to the Lord Jesus Christ. Poverty is not always because of our actions – it can often be because of other things, including persecution. But even if we have little of this world's possessions (and some of the loneliness that may come with that) if we have Christ as Saviour and Lord we are rich and truly blessed.