Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
It's better to have just a little bit when you've earned it honestly than to have great wealth gained through wrong ways.
This verse is saying that having less money earned the right way is far better than having lots of money earned through dishonest or harmful means.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb comes from ancient Israel's wisdom literature, likely compiled during Solomon's reign when trade and commerce were flourishing. The Hebrew culture highly valued both material prosperity and moral integrity, but this verse clarifies that when the two conflict, righteousness should always take priority. The contrast between 'little' and 'great revenues' reflects the economic realities of ancient society where wealth gaps were significant.
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