This saying affirms that honest poverty is better than dishonest wealth.

«Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity»: This line is identical with 19.1a. See there for comments.

«Than a rich man who is perverse in his ways»: This line is a variant of 19.1b. There it is the “fool” who is said to be “perverse in his speech.” For «rich» see 14.20. «Perverse in his ways» means he has a devious or crooked character.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .