Proverbs 19:22

Proverbs 19:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
• New International Version (NIV)What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.
• English Standard Version (ESV)What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.
• New King James Version (NKJV)What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.

Context of Proverbs 19:22

20Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, That you may be wise in the time to come. 21Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out). That which is desirable in a man is his loyalty and unfailing love, But it is better to be a poor man than a [wealthy] liar. 23The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. 24The lazy man buries his hand in the [food] dish, But will not even bring it to his mouth again.

Proverbs 19:22 word by word

תַּאֲוַ֣ת אָדָ֣ם חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְטֽוֹב־רָ֝שׁ מֵאִ֥ישׁ כָּזָֽב׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The desireתַּאֲוָהta'ăvâh · desireH8378
• of a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• his kindnessחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
• and a poor manרוּשׁrûsh · be poorH7326
• betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• thanאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• a liarכָּזָבkâzâb · lieH3577

Cross-references for Proverbs 19:22

• 1 Chronicles 29:2So with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, silver for the things of silver, bronze for the things of bronze, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, as well as onyx stones and stones to be inlaid, stones of antimony (a brittle, silvery-white metal) and stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones and alabaster in abundance.
• 2 Chronicles 6:8But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you did well that it was in your heart.
• Mark 12:41And He sat down opposite the [temple] treasury, and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury. And many rich people were putting in large sums.
• Mark 14:6But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why are you bothering her and causing trouble? She has done a good and beautiful thing to Me.
• 2 Corinthians 8:2for during an ordeal of severe distress, their abundant joy and their deep poverty [together] overflowed in the wealth of their lavish generosity.
• Proverbs 19:1Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than a [rich] man who is twisted in his speech and is a [shortsighted] fool.
• Job 6:15My brothers have acted deceitfully like a brook, Like the torrents of brooks that vanish,
• Job 17:5He who denounces and informs against his friends for a share of the spoil, The eyes of his children will also languish and fail.
• Psalms 62:9Men of low degree are only a breath (emptiness), and men of [high] rank are a lie (delusion). In the balances they go up [because they have no measurable weight or value]; They are together lighter than a breath.

Commentaries on Proverbs 19:22

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22The “liar” is probably the man, who makes false excuses for not giving, and so is inferior to the poor man, whose “desire,” the wish to do good, is taken, in the absence of means to carry it into effect, for the act of kindness itself.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22Verse 22 It is far better to have a heart to do good, and want ability for it, than to have ability for it, and want a heart to it.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. desire--that is, to do good, indicates a kind disposition (Pr 11:23); and the poor thus affected are better than liars, who say and do not.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 19:22

• False Teachers
• Falsehood
• Kindness
• Poor
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Judgment
• Pity
• Scorner
• Slothfulness
• Kindness
• Make, Maker
• Poor
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings